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

The first half of that innings belongs to Perth!

The key wicket of Smith, another scalp with Hughes departing, and keeping things in check with the run rate.

Hardie the pick of the bowlers so far with 1-12 from his two, including the prize wicket of Smith.

Can Perth press home this advantage and restrict their chase to sub-140?

Eight off the Hardie over. Fairly low-risk stuff from Philippe and Henriques at the moment, and the deck doesn’t appear particularly easy to bat on.

Connolly to bowl the last over before the midway break.

Couch leaks a couple of boundaries to start the over, and ends up conceding 12. Sixers needed that.

Philippe has a run-a-ball 15 and might start to look to shift through the gears here with 8 overs done. Hardie returns.

Sydney have slowed to a crawl here.

Brody Couch misses a very gettable run-out to continue his poor start in the field, and now, he’s got ball in hand to start the eighth over and keep the pressure on.

Payne pegged it back, and Hardie cashed in with that huge wicket. Momentum has firmly swung to the home team here.

Sixers going at just a run a ball and Smith’s back in the sheds. Beardman to come back to try to rip through Henriques, who’s been struggling with the bat a bit...

That’s the big one!

A big LBW shout off the second ball of Hardie’s over... and it’s not given, but reviewed.

Looked to be a fraction high, but ball tracker shows it is JUST hitting the top of the stumps... and Smith has to go for 24 off 13!

What a monster moment in this match as Moises Henriques heads to the crease. It’s 2-34.

Brilliant start with the ball from David Payne!

The import mixes up his pace to great effect, and Smith & Philippe struggle to find the middle of the bat. Just two runs off it with plenty of pace off.

Scorchers needed an over like that to peg back some momentum. It’ll be Aaron Hardie to take the ball from the southern end.

Smith was OH-SO CLOSE to being caught... but it’s six! Just clears Connolly in the deep.

Richardson’s second over goes for 13 to close the powerplay.

Smith’s rolling now. 23 off 10. How the Scorchers would dearly love his scalp...

Smith getting into his groove early against Mahli Beardman - who dismissed him last match.

A towering lofted four over cover, and superb straight drive for four the next ball, and a mistimed pull for three.

11 off the over, with Josh Philippe the new man at the crease.

Bit happening in that over!

Couch appears to competely miss a potential catch at cover - looked like he lost the ball as it went close to his outstretched hand up high.

Hughes faces the entire over, and holes out on the last ball trying to sky one over third man.

It’s a BRIGHT start for Perth!