Big Bash Final 2015: Complete Breakdown of Perth Scorchers vs. Sydney Sixers
The final of the 2014-15 Big Bash League will be played on Wednesday, with the Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers ready to fight it out for this year's title.
Venue: Manuka Oval, Canberra
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 28
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Start Time: 8:40 a.m. GMT/7:40 p.m. local
Live On: Sky Sports (United Kingdom), Network Ten (Australia), Sky Sport (New Zealand), Star Sports (India, Pakistan and Bangladesh), Willow TV (United States and Canada).
Live Stream: Sky Go (United Kingdom)
Weather: The Weather Channel is forecasting a mild and partly cloudy day that will reach 22 degrees Celsius during the afternoon, before falling gradually toward an overnight low of eight degrees Celsius.
Overview
The Perth Scorchers made it a perfect four from four on Sunday, reaching the Big Bash League final for the fourth consecutive occasion with an 18-run semi-final victory over the Melbourne Stars.
Though they set only a moderate total of 144-7 at the WACA, the dominant side of the tournament's short history put the brakes on their counterparts from Victoria when Nathan Coulter-Nile and Andrew Tye ripped through the visitors' middle order.
A day earlier in the first semi-final, the Sydney Sixers waltzed to a surprisingly lopsided victory over the Adelaide Strikers—this season's leading side that lost just once in the group stage of the competition.
Led by a rapid 85 by Nic Maddinson, the men from New South Wales stormed their way to a commanding 181-4, before dismantling the hosts for a paltry 94 in front a massive crowd at the Adelaide Oval.
Those semi-final results have set up a clash between two of the three sides to have already claimed a Big Bash title—the Sixers claimed the inaugural crown in 2011-12, while the Scorchers are the defending champions.
Squads
Perth Scorchers
Adam Voges (c), Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Michael Carberry, Hilton Cartwright, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Brad Hogg, Michael Klinger, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, James Muirhead, Joel Paris, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Sam Whiteman (wk), Yasir Arafat
Sydney Sixers
Brad Haddin (c/wk), Sean Abbott, Josh Anderson, Doug Bollinger, Ryan Carters (wk), Trent Copeland, Ben Dwarshuis, Moises Henriques, Simon Keen, Brett Lee, Michael Lumb, Nathan Lyon, Nic Maddinson, Steve O'Keefe, Jordan Silk, Dwayne Smith, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Riki Wessels
Form Lines (most recent first)
Perth Scorchers - WLWWWL
Sydney Sixers - WWLWLL
| Adelaide Strikers | 8 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13 | +1.159 |
| Perth Scorchers | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | +0.705 |
| Melbourne Stars | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | +0.336 |
| Sydney Sixers | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | -0.014 |
| Hobart Hurricanes | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 6 | -0.280 |
| Melbourne Renegades | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 6 | -0.331 |
| Sydney Thunder | 8 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 5 | -0.485 |
| Brisbane Heat | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -1.116 |
Statistical Leaders
Perth Scorchers
| Player | Mat | Runs | HS | Ave | SR |
| Michael Klinger | 9 | 293 | 105* | 36.62 | 136.27 |
| Michael Carberry | 9 | 257 | 77* | 42.83 | 127.22 |
| Adam Voges | 9 | 174 | 54* | 34.80 | 115.23 |
| Player | Mat | Wkts | BBI | Ave | Econ |
| Andrew Tye | 9 | 14 | 4/18 | 16.14 | 6.74 |
| Jason Behrendorff | 9 | 14 | 4/22 | 16.57 | 6.44 |
| Yasir Arafat | 9 | 14 | 4/27 | 18.21 | 7.61 |
Sydney Sixers
| Player | Mat | Runs | HS | Ave | SR |
| Jordan Silk | 9 | 269 | 69* | 67.25 | 137.94 |
| Nic Maddinson | 9 | 265 | 85 | 33.12 | 154.97 |
| Michael Lumb | 9 | 262 | 80 | 29.11 | 126.57 |
| Player | Mat | Wkts | BBI | Ave | Econ |
| Brett Lee | 9 | 10 | 3/34 | 25.40 | 7.25 |
| Sean Abbott | 9 | 9 | 2/14 | 27.55 | 7.75 |
| Doug Bollinger | 9 | 8 | 3/21 | 33.37 | 8.61 |
Strengths and Weaknesses
Perth Scorchers
Despite being the second-highest scoring side in this season's Big Bash, so many of the team's victories this season have followed impressive bowling performances where they've stifled the opposition.
In their group-stage clash with the Sixers, Perth comfortably defended 135. Against the Strikers, they defended 133. Against the Hobart Hurricanes, they defended 141. And against the Brisbane Heat, they limited the visitors to just 134.
Led by Tye and Jason Behrendorff, the Scorchers' attack has been accurate and incisive (Yasir Arafat has also been effective), reducing the pressure on a batting lineup that's looked a little top-heavy all season and has lacked depth behind Michael Carberry, Michael Klinger and Adam Voges.
Sydney Sixers
The key to the Sixers' season to date has been their batting strength, with four members of the squad already passing 200 runs (three of those have passed 250) for the tournament.
With a top order that boasts Maddinson, Jordan Silk, Michael Lumb, Riki Wessels and Moises Henriques, the Sydney-based outfit possesses one of the strongest batting lineups in the Big Bash and the sort capable of reaching 180-plus.
That strength with the blade has compensated for a bowling attack that has been surprisingly expensive, with high-class seamers in Brett Lee, Doug Bollinger and Sean Abbott all conceding more than 7.25 runs per over in this edition of the Big Bash.
Players to Watch
Perth Scorchers
After starting the campaign as an opener, Carberry has moved down into the middle order in the latter stages of this season's Big Bash and has given the Perth lineup some strength in the second half of the innings.
In the semi-final, his quick 50 when coming in at 19-2 was critical in avoiding a collapse, while his sparkling 77 from 37 balls against the Brisbane Heat was an example of the damage he can do in full swing.
Likely to come in at No. 4 again, the Englishman is a key figure for the Scorchers, particularly if the openers fail to fire.
Sydney Sixers
Wednesday's final will mark the last match of Brett Lee's career, after he announced his retirement from all cricket earlier this month.
One of the finest fast bowlers in Australia's history, the veteran, who is the Sixers' leading wicket-taker this season, will be eager to finish on a high with a strong performance in his farewell game.
To do so, he'll need to land some early blows on the Perth top order, which, if he's able to do so, will push Sydney toward victory given the top-heavy nature of the Scorchers' lineup.
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