Sydney Sixers and Perth Scorchers face off against each other in the Qualifier of the Big Bash League, to determine the first finalists of the season. The Sixers had finished on top of the table after the league stages after they got the better of Melbourne Stars in their final league game. All-rounder Daniel Christian had starred with an unbeaten 49 off just 23 balls as the Sixers chased down 180 with five wickets and a ball to spare.
The Perth Scorchers, on the other hand, went down in their last league game to eventually finish second in the table. Despite a fine knock of an unbeaten 54 from Mitchell Marsh, they failed to chase down Brisbane Heat’s 181 for 7, to fall short by six runs. It ended a three-match winning streak for the Scorchers.
Team News
Jackson Bird bowled just one over for the Sixers before being replaced by X-factor player Jake Ball. Ball might find a place in the XI, as a result. The Perth Scorchers, on the other hand, had an excellent run in the league stages, and have no reason to tinker with their XI despite the loss in their last game.
Key Players:
Dan Christian (Sydney Sixers)
The all-rounder has emerged as the X-factor of the Sixers this season, with consistent performances with both bat and ball. He smashed an unbeaten 49 off 23 balls in the last game, and his experience will be the key.
Jhye Richardson (Perth Scorchers)
The fast bowler has been in excellent form this season. He was expensive with the ball in the last game but picked up a wicket, which took his tally to 27 this edition.
Probable playing XIs
Sydney Sixers:
Josh Phillipe (wk), James Vince, Dan Hughes, Moises Henriques (c), Jordan Silk, Dan Christian, Carlos Brathwaite, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Steve O’Keefe, Jake Ball
Perth Scorchers:
Jason Roy, Liam Livingstone, Colin Munro, Josh Inglis (wk), Mitchell Marsh, Ashton Turner (c), Aaron Hardie, Jhye Richardson, Andrew Tye, Jason Behrendorff, Fawad Ahmed