Perth Scorchers have made it #ThirdTimeLucky by winning the KFC Big Bash League title at the third attempt by defeating Hobart Hurricanes by 39 runs in the BIG Final at #TheFurnace on Friday night.
In front of a club record crowd of 20,783 fans, the Hurricanes fell short in their pursuit of the Scorchers’ sensational score of 4-191 from their 20 overs, led by Shaun Marsh (63no) and Craig Simmons (45).
Fan favourite Brad Hogg (2-17) and unsung hero Jason Behrendorff (2-24) were brilliant with the ball as always, while Alfonso Thomas produced his vintage best (2-23) as Hobart finished at 7-152.
The victory ends Perth’s long wait for BBL glory having lost the previous two BBL Finals on home turf. The triumph also puts an end to WA’s trophy drought which extended back almost a decade to 29 February 2004.
Veteran Hogg, who turned 43 yesterday, was named Man of the Match after his sublime spell, but there were contributions all round, from Shaun and Mitch Marsh, with the latter blasting a remarkable 37 off 12 balls which included four sixes and two fours.
Simmons blasted 45 at the top of the order from 36 deliveries, while Marsh, who overcame a calf strain, batted through the innings with an unbeaten 63 off 43 balls.
Hobart always appeared behind the eight ball in the chase, particularly when Behrendorff dismissed BBL|03 Player of the Tournament Ben Dunk for 17 to make it 2-39 in the sixth over.
However, it wasn’t until Pat Cummins claimed the wicket of the dangerous George Bailey (58 off 32), making it 5-115 in the 15th over, that the Scorchers could begin to think about the celebrations.
Earlier, Scorchers skipper Simon Katich won the toss and elected to bat but the Scorchers got off to a slow start with 15 runs coming off the first four overs, while the captain also departed for 6 off Dimi Mascarenhas.
Simmons was given two lives when dropped in the field and he made the Hurricanes pay, with some lusty blows, including sixes in the sixth and seventh overs.
Shaun Marsh cracked Doug Bollinger for six as the Scorchers begun to accelerate after being 1-72 at the halfway mark.
In fact, Perth piled on 119 runs in the final 10 overs, led by Mitch Marsh’s remarkable hitting, which included three consecutive sixes off Mascarenhas in the 18th over, which went for 24.
It was easy to forget, Adam Voges added a handy 27 off 17 balls, which included a crunching maximum off Xavier Doherty.
With the ball, Behrendorff got the important wickets of Hobart openers Dunk and Tim Paine in the powerplay to give Perth the initiative.
Bailey threatened with his impressive hitting, but Hogg got two key dismissals in BBL Young Gun Jon Wells stumped for 24 and Travis Birt caught by Adam Voges for 2 to reduce Hobart to 4-91.
However, Bailey was the key wicket and Cummins got him, caught well by Thomas in the deep.
From there, the Scorchers finished the job to usher in the celebrations following three years of waiting.
James Buttler
As the editor of Cricket Badger he is intent on building the website to give quality coverage of the domestic game around the world.
James was the full-time Media Manager at Yorkshire County Cricket Club between 2007 and 2010.
James is a published author and a writer/video contributor to many cricket publications.
He's unsurprisingly a complete cricket badger!
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