Last Update: February 04, 2023, 19:14 IST
Perth Scorchers successfully defended their title with a thrilling win over Brisbane Heat (AFP Image)
After Brisbane scored 175–7, the Scorchers recorded a thrilling five-wicket win with four balls to spare in front of a record 53,886 narrow fans at Perth Stadium.
A big hit at the death from teenager Cooper Connolly and a heroic 53 from skipper Ashton Turner helped Perth Scorchers beat Brisbane Heat to clinch an unprecedented fifth Twenty20 Big Bash League title on Saturday.
His fireworks propelled them to 178–5 and sealed a thrilling five-wicket win with four balls to spare in front of a record 53,886 narrow fans at Perth Stadium after Brisbane scored 175–7.
Having successfully defended the title by the team that defeated the Sydney Sixers in the decider of the previous season, Saturday’s victory secured a fifth trophy in only the 12th year of the competition.
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“It’s a surreal feeling. I’ve played a lot of games of cricket but you never know how it turns out,” said Turner after his 32-ball knock.
“We are in rarified air at the moment, we have got a lot of guys in form and that is not always the case. Throughout the season, many people have contributed to the victory.”
A victory looked bleak when Turner was run out after a horrendous mix-up with Nick Hobson, leaving him needing 39 runs from 19 balls.
But Young Gun Connolly turned the match around by scoring 25 runs in 11 balls.
He crunched 18 off James Beazley’s over, leaving him needing 20 off the last 12 balls.
Hobson then sealed the victory by hitting a big six in the last over and then five off a no ball.
“For me to cheer on this crowd at 19 (age), it couldn’t have been better. It’s a dream come true,” said left-handed Connolly. “I had complete confidence in myself.”
The clash culminated in a season marked by thrilling finishes, controversial moments, outstanding individual performances and more than one million fans marching through the turnstiles.
Perth earned home ground advantage after topping the regular season table, then beating the Sixers in a qualifying match last weekend.
The Heat managed only fifth place and had to go through three knockout games away from home to reach the finals.
Both the teams along with Heat’s Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Matt Renshaw and Mitchell Swepson left for Australia’s tour of India earlier this week.
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The Scorchers were without pacer Lance Morris and teammate Ashton Agar, who are preparing for the four-Test Border-Gavaskar series starting Thursday in Nagpur.
Heat captain Jimmy Pierson won the toss and electing to bat, Josh Brown came out with all guns blazing, scoring 25 off the first 11 balls.
But their luck soon ran out and after an opening barrage, the Scorchers had Brisbane at 86–1 at the halfway mark.
Jason Behrendorff removed Sam Heazlett for 34, shared a dangerous 79-run partnership with Nathan McSweeney, then Peirson hit three in the same over.
McSweeney was dismissed for 41 before Max Bryant made an aggressive 14-ball 31.
In reply, Scorchers opener Stephan Esquinazi made 21 when he was run out by a schoolboy, then Michael Neser took a long catch to dismiss Cameron Bancroft for 15.
They were tottering at 54-3 when Aaron Hardie was dismissed for 17 in the next over.
But Connolly and Hobson sealed the victory before Turner and Josh Inglis put on a high-quality 80 from 52 balls.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)