The Perth Scorchers and Brisbane Heat produced one of the best BBL finals with the hosts, at the Optus Stadium in Perth, eventually winning by 5 wickets in the last over nail-biter to secure their 5th BBL trophy and second consecutive on a trot.
It was skipper Ashton Turner who turned it up on the night of the final, carrying his brilliant form throughout the season, by scoring 53 runs off 32 balls in the chase of 176.
However, after the dismissals of Josh Inglis and Ashton Turner, who got run-out, in the 17th over, it was the 41* (16) partnership between 19-year-old Cooper Connolly and Nick Hobson, who is generally a top-order basher but has been demoted in the latter half of the season, that brought Perth back in the game, and took over the line.
With 5 BBL titles, Perth Scorchers are the most successful team in the BBL history
Ashton Turner’s run-out in the 17th over had put Brisbane Heat in the driver’s seat. But with 38 required off 18 balls, young Connolly tore into Bazley, clattering the seamer for 6 2 4 0 0 6. In the 19th over, which produced 10 runs, by Spencer Johnson, Connolly was dropped by Brown.
With 10 needed from the last over, Hobson sent the second ball of the over, from veteran seamer Michael Neser, into the stands, before finishing things off with a boundary. Connolly cracked 25*(11) and Hobson 18(7) to take Perth Scorchers to their 5th BBL trophy, and second on a trot.
Perth had finished on top of the points table with the most number of wins – 11 wins – this season. They defeated Sydney Sixers in the Qualifier to seal their place in the final, where, though, they weren’t as clinical for many parts as they would have hoped to, and even went behind in the chase.
Skipper Ashton Turner was named the Player of the Match for his terrific counter-attacking half-century under pressure after Perth were reduced to 54/3 in the 8th over.
“It’s a surreal feeling. We have a lot of guys in form. There’s been a lot of guys who have contributed to the team. We have played an exciting brand of cricket,” Turner said.
Cooper Connolly, the 19-year-old hero for the Scorchers who changed the tide of the chase in the 18th over, was ecstatic to say the least.
“Pretty good for me. Wanted to keep my shape and hit through the line. At 19 to have this crowd cheer for me, couldn’t have asked for anything better. Today was the best opportunity for all of us to chip in, a dream come true to win a Big Bash title,” Connolly said.
