The Perth Scorchers have beaten the Sydney Sixers in a thrilling Big B beatash League final at Manuka Oval in Canberra on Wednesday. It was so close to being a fairytale ending for Brett Lee, but it was the Perth Scorchers who claimed back-to-back Big Bash titles with a thrilling four-wicket win over the Sydney Sixers.
Shaun Marsh named man-of-the-match
“Full credit to the guys,” he says, giving Mark Howard nothing.
With that done, Jason Behrendorff is named the “KFC T20 Young Gun”. Presumably he wins some Zinger burger vouchers in addition to his trophy. More awkwardness ensues when the absent Jacques Kallis is given (or not given, in this instance) an award.
Moises Henriques does a good job of acting enthusiastic about the Champions League T20 and Brett Lee’s last over as he picks up the runners up award and then Adam Voges appears to accept the main prize. “It’s tough watching when you haven’t got any control over what’s happening in the middle,” he says of the tight finish.
The Scorchers are Big Bash champions for 2014-15
That was a crazy finish to a tournament that has produced its fair share of thrilling chases. Shaun Marsh and Moises Henriques played a pair of commanding innings’ for their sides and there was some irony in the finish; out of Marsh’s hands and quite literally spilled from Henriques’.
The Scorchers chase was underpinned by that match-winning 73 from Marsh and he was capably supported by Michael Klinger (33), Adam Voges (20) and Michael Carberry, who probably thought that was going to be a little simpler when he leveled scores with four balls to go. Instead he watched on in horro as Brett Lee (3-26 from 4 overs in his final match) took two wickets in as many balls to rock the Scorchers.
With 2-34 off four overs – both wickets taken in a game-shifting 19th over – Nathan Lyon nearly snatched it for the Sixers but instead they’ll be left to rue the poor start to their batting effort and a couple of mad monets in the field, not least in the shambolic 18th over bowled by Lee.
On balance, you’d have to say that Perth were deserving winners today and their back-to-back triumphs are testament to the work Justin Langer has done assembling and shaping this squad.
Perth Scorchers beat Sydney Sixers - Shaun Marsh Named as Man-of-the-Match
