Steely Sixers march to maiden WBBL title

A tenacious Sydney Sixers defended a rather meagre total with aplomb to defeat the Perth Scorchers by seven runs in the final of the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) during a see-sawing affair at the WACA in Perth on Saturday (January 28).

Steely Sixers, overcoming the heartbreak of losing last season's decider, restricted the Scorchers to 117 for 7 to claim the title. At one stage, the Scorchers were seemingly cruising to victory at 61 for 1 in the 11th over but Sixers' quick Sarah Aley starred with figures of 4 for 23, complemented by sensational fielding as the visitors claimed their maiden title, and a memorable win.

Chasing 125 for victory, the Sixers blew a golden opportunity when Marizanne Kapp dropped a return catch off Nicole Bolton in the third ball of the innings before the Scorchers had scored. It proved mightily costly as the imposing Scorchers openers of Bolton and Elyse Villani provided early fireworks, combining for a destructive 38-run stand.

It appeared that the Scorchers were rollicking to an easy victory with Villani (23 from 20 balls) in terrific touch with an array of booming drives before holing out to long on in the sixth over. Still, the home side seemed to be in safe hands with captain Suzie Bates joining Bolton at the crease as the Scorchers reached 50 runs inside eight overs and the title well within their sight.

The match stunningly flipped in the 11th over when Bates was spectacularly run out by Lauren Smith, who dived and had only stump to aim at. Succumbing to the pressure of an inspired Sixers team, the Scorchers lost 4 for 23 in five overs to slump to 84 for 5 in the 16th over. Amid the carnage, the Scorchers lost Bolton (34 from 25 balls) and Lauren Ebsary to another run out in a horrible mix-up with Katherine Brunt (35 not out from 30).

Wickets in consecutive deliveries in the penultimate over by Aley essentially sealed the Sixers victory leaving the home crowd stunned.

Earlier, amid sweltering conditions in Perth, perhaps contributing to a smaller than expected crowd of 2726, the Scorchers sent the Sixers in to bat after winning the toss. The Sixers were rocked early when opener Dane Van Niekerk (1) was caught behind in the second over attempting to drive off quick Anya Shrubsole (2 for 17 from 4 overs), who bowled a consistent probing length.

After the wicket, frustratingly for the Sixers, in-form stand-in captain Alyssa Healy (41 from 27 balls) couldn't find the strike and went through a four-over stretch where she faced just four deliveries. Her partner Ashleigh Gardner (21 from 31) struggled for fluency and was unable to rotate the strike as pressure started to build on the visitors.

Healy, when she finally received a healthy share of the strike, was in imperious touch and counterattacked the spin of Emma King, smashing three boundaries in the sixth over highlighted by superb use of her feet. Highlighting the contrast in fortunes between Healy and Gardner, at one stage they had both faced 24 balls but Healy had scored 22 more runs.

With Healy in full flow and Gardner starting to finally find her rhythm, the Sixers seemed headed for a big score after laying a solid platform at over six runs an over. However, the match took a turn in the 10th over when Gardner was bowled by a Suzie Bates yorker, ending a second-wicket partnership of 56 and triggering a collapse.

During the next over, Piepa Cleary claimed the big wicket of Healy, who holed out after dancing down the wicket followed by the dismissal of Sara McGlashan as the Sixers slumped to 81 for 4 having lost 3 for 15. Much like their male counterparts, the Scorchers were superb in the field backing up unnerving accuracy from the bowlers, as the Sixers were being tangled and strangled during the backend of their innings.

At one stage, the Sixers managed just six runs in three overs towards the end as King and medium pacer Heather Graham formed a good combination ensuring runs were at a minimum. Leading from the front, Bates showcased tactical nous mixing up her bowlers well and setting creative fields.

With their once formidable innings wobbling, Marizanne Kapp (34 not out from 28 balls) ensured the Sixers regained some lost momentum with lusty hitting towards the backend to ensure her team mustered a competitive total of 124 for 5, which proved just enough.

Brief scores: Sydney Sixers Women 124/5 in 20 overs (Alyssa Healy 40, Marizanne Kapp 34; Anya Shrubsole 2-17) beat Perth Scorchers Women 117/7 in 20 overs (Nicole Bolton 34, Katherine Brunt 35*; Sarah Aley 4-23) by seven runs.