ST vs PS

That will be all from us for now. For continued entertainment and action, do keep a close tab on our live coverage for upcoming fixtures. We will be back again tomorrow as Adelaide Strikers gear up to take on the Brisbane Heat on the iconic New Year's Eve. For now, this is Datrim Ray signing off on behalf of Karthik Raj and the Sportskeeda commentary team. Adios and keep safe! 

Ashton Turner [Player of the Match]: "It is a condensed tournament now, so puts more weight on every game. To end up on the right side is really satisfying. We have had contributions pretty evenly. Tonight was the first game where we probably put both the batting and bowling together. Hopefully, we can take it to Hobart in a couple of days' time. Absolutely, our ambition is to play finals cricket and win the trophy. We have a strong advantage if we can play the finals at home. Most teams are going to get replacements for the back-end of the tournament."

Perth Scorchers won by 71 runs.

Ashton Turner - 99 (41) | Aaron Hardie - 2/26
Matthew Gilkes - 33 (19) | Reece Topley - 2/34

DOMINANT WIN BY THE SCORCHERS! They have thoroughly outplayed the Thunder in all departments to clinch a handsome 71-run win! The Sydney Thunder openers struggled all day long to put the foot on the gas. While Warner was able to get a few away initially, the Thunder struggled to find the boundaries regularly in the early phase of the powerplay. But the pressure eased a little bit once the powerplay was complete. Warner got into his zone and began finding the middle of the bat regularly. Soon enough, Gilkes joined the party and began bashing the ball all around the park.

But just when it looked like the Thunder were in the ascendancy, Warner (25 off 21) miscued a lofted shot down to long on. Then struck a disaster! An over later, the Scorchers found a way to shoot themselves in the foot. The in-form Gilkes (33 off 19) ran himself out at the bowler’s end courtesy of a total miscommunication and a lapse of concentration. Connolly further added to Thunder’s miseries by going BANG-BANG at the halfway stage to leave Thunder reeling at 81-4.

Furthermore, Sams’ dismissal further dented the Thunder inside the surge. Sydney Thunder lost all their momentum during this phase of the game as wickets tumbled at an alarming rate. Sam Konstas tried to stitch an innings of sortss by adding 21 off 19 to keep the Thunder alive in the run chase. But in the end, the scoreboard pressure got too big and as a result, the Scorchers were floored for only 131 inside 18 overs. Hardie and Conolly were in exceptional form with the ball and picked up two wickets apiece to dismantle the Thunder batting lineup tonight. 

So the Scorchers have wrapped up this game quite comfortably. The two sides will meet again in this season, but the Scorchers have done well to draw first blood. It’s time for the post-match presentation. Hang in there as we bring you more updates!

17.3 Brody Couch to Reece Topley, WICKET! Short of a length and angling in, Topley looks to back away and pull it straight but he miscues it to mid-off where the Scorchers' skipper Ashton Turner runs a little to his right and takes a simple catch. So, the Thunder have been bowled out for 131 to hand a 71-run victory to the Scorchers!

17.2 Brody Couch to Reece Topley, short of a length and slow outside-off, Topley taps it to backward point for a single. There is a shy at the batter's end and the Thunder batters take an over-throw as the ball goes past the stumps!

17.1 Brody Couch to Reece Topley, short of a length and angling in from over the wicket, Topley waits and steers it to third where Mahli Beardman runs to his left and dives to make a fantastic stop. Two runs taken.

The end is near! The Sydney Thunder are on the brink of a heavy defeat. Scorchers would look to put an end to this. Here comes Couch [3-0-24-1]

15.6 Brody Couch to Reece Topley, length delivery outside-off, Topley backs away and has a wild swing towards mid-wicket but he makes no connection whatsoever.