Ashton Turner led from the front to make Perth Scorchers the record five-time Big Bash League (BBL) champions after beating Brisbane Heat by five wickets in a thrilling final on Saturday (February 4).
In front of a record crowd at Optus Stadium, the defending champions overhauled the 176-run target with three balls to spare. Turner whacked 53 off 32 in the middle overs before Connolly, a 19-year-old, cracked an unbeaten 25 off 11 to guide the hosts to victory in the final over.
Scorchers became the only side in history to ever claim titles back-to-back twice.
The disastrous run out of Turner with 40 runs still needed put the game back on a knife's edge. Connolly stepped up to the plate, cracking an unbeaten 25 off 11 balls in a heroic performance. The 19-year-old was dropped on 19 by Josh Brown, who failed to snaffle the skied chance. The Scorchers needed 10 runs to win off Michael Neser's final over. This time it was Nick Hobson turn to step up to the plate. Hobson, who was responsible for the run out of Turner, cracked a huge six and then followed it up with a four to secure victory with three balls to spare.
Scorchers players streamed onto the field in wild celebrations after the winning runs secured the franchise a record fifth title. Hobson finished unbeaten on 18 off just seven balls.
Talking about the Heats, the team sat in last spot on the ladder just 22 days ago before winning four of their last five games to sneak into the finals in fifth spot. The Heat then won away finals against the Sydney Thunder, Melbourne Renegades and Sydney Sixers to make the decider, but they started as rank underdogs against a Scorchers outfit hunting their another crown.
Batting first, Brisbane Heats got off to a jolty start as their opener Josh Brown, who looked in good touch after smashing three boundaries in Jason Behrendorff’s first over, was nipped in bud by David Payne at the score of 25 off 12.
After an agonising 22-ball passage of play without a boundary, McSweeney executed a lap shot against Matthew Kelly that flew over the wicketkeeper’s head for six.
Heat opener Sam Heazlett was also struggling to find the boundary rope, but broke the shackles in the ninth over with consecutive sixes against Aaron Hardie. McSweeney and Heazlett combined for a 79-run partnership for the second wicket before taking the Power Surge, which proved disastrous for the visitors.
Behrendorff struck twice in the 13th over, removing Heazlett (34 off 30 balls) and Heat captain Jimmy Peirson in almost identical fashion, caught at short fine leg after miscuing a pull shot. The Heat could only muster 2-8 from their Power Surge.
Hardie returned to the attack in the 15th over and immediately broke through, with McSweeney slashing a cut stroke towards the deep point fielder. The Heat had suddenly lost 3-13 in 16 deliveries. Max Bryant provided some fireworks at the death, smacking three sixes in an entertaining late cameo of 31 (14) to steer the Heat towards a defendable total on a two-paced wicket.
