Big Bash League final recap: Perth Scorchers battle Sydney Sixers for sixth title

No trouble for Inglis first up as he navigates a couple of singles.

Just two combined overs remaining for the key duo of Starc and Abbott. Dwarshius is back into the attack from the southern end.

That’s two wickets in six balls!

Hardie nicks one off Abbott, Philippe makes no mistake behind the stumps, and it’s 2-85.

Too little too late, or the slightest of chances for the Sixers? Josh Inglis joins Marsh at the crease. The two national T20 team representatives will link up at next month’s World Cup, but they’ve got some business to settle across the coming half-hour here first.

Hardie gets off the mark with a streaky edge off Starc.

The veteran quick found the breakthrough but continues to be expensive, with 1-32 from his 3.

Marsh & Allen’s partnership was Perth’s second-largest for any wicket in a BBL final, behind only Turner and Evans from 2022.

At last, the Sixers break through!

Allen departs courtesy of a stunning diving catch from Edwards at cover off Starc’s bowling.

The Kiwi goes for 36, and it’s 1-80. Hardie the new man.

Serious one-way traffic.

Allen takes over the mantle of most runs in a BBL season by a Scorcher. He’s had a superb campaign after struggling at times last season.

Starc comes back on for his third over in what is one last roll of the dice for the Sixers.

It’s the fourth time this summer that Perth have got 50+ out of their opening partnership.

Hardie, Inglis, Connolly, Turner and Evans the next men in - if they’re needed. Just 5.38 an over required from here.

There’s a fairly decent Mexican Wave going around Optus Stadium, with the crowd enjoying themselves. Marsh and Allen are making party time feel like it’s starting early!

Six overs in, and Marsh and Allen are making it look like they’re batting on a different deck to the one the Sixers were on.

Marsh has raced to 28 off 22, Allen’s 20 off 14, and there’s been precious few chances for the visitors to break through and cause even the smallest level of fret for the WA side.

And they are off - or are they?!

How good that we JUST got that last ball of the fifth over to secure a match.

But as quickly as the ground staff come out, they go back off - because the rain stops immediately.

Abbott with the ball as play resumes after only a couple of minutes.

That’s five overs done, and it’s confirmed: We won’t be coming back tomorrow to re-do the entire match!

Perth obviously a fair way ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern target of 25 by the end of that fifth over. Marsh and Allen UNTROUBLED.

Perth doing it EASY!

Starc goes for a whopping 19 to close out the powerplay, and the light rain has subsided. It’s extremely difficult to see the Sixers getting out of this jam now.

Marsh is 18, Allen is 16, and Dwarshius comes on from the southern end.