Only a few nights after experiencing a bruising defeat in the playoffs, the Sydney Sixers have engineered a stirring turnaround to book yet another showdown with the Perth Scorchers in the BBL final at Optus Stadium.
Their 57 runs demolition of the defending champion Hobart Hurricanes not only avenged them, their recent disappointment but also provided them with another shot at the Big Bash League final, making this their eighth appearance in a BBL final.
The final will be a sixth decider match against their fiercest adversaries Perth Scorchers, a competition that has come to characterise the modern era of the Big Bash League.
The basis for this emphatic winning was laid by Steve Smith who continues to effortlessly glide from one format to another.
Fresh from the Ashes, Smith made a dominating 65 out of 43, with nine fours and a six to anchor the Sixers in their innings.
Though he began cautiously initially, tallying up to 11 runs from first eight deliveries, in no time he gained control in a 64-run partnership with Josh Philippe.
Even after Smith had been dismissed in the 13th over with the score on 120, the Sixers continued their charge. Joel Davies and Lachlan Shaw fired to 48 runs off 25 balls and lifted the total to 198 for 8.
Hobart’s reply never really gained any momentum. Early wickets from Mitchell Starc and Sean Abbott disrupted the start of the innings for the Hurricanes and a 48-run stand between Ben McDermott and Beau Webster came at too slow a pace to put the target under threat.
When Hobart slipped down 4 for 14 in a decisive collapse the contest completely slipped away. Davies struck twice, Starc removed McDermott, and Ben Dwarshuis cleaned up the tail with 3 for 26.
The Hurricanes were bowled out for 141 in 17.2 overs leaving the Sixers to prepare for one more journey towards the final where either redemption or heartbreak awaits.
Also read: BBL semi-final: Sixers vs Scorchers, Babar Azam under pressure
