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BBL Qualifier: Scorchers and Sixers fight for direct ticket to the final

Abhishek Singh


Two of the topmost teams of the Big Bash League at the league stage, Sydney Sixers and Perth Scorchers will collide in the Qualifier at the Manuka Oval in Canberra to get a direct ticket to the final of the tournament. The loser will have to face the winner of the knockout between Sydney Thunder and Brisbane Heat in the Challenger on the fourth February. 

With a position in the final at stake, both teams will give their best to grab the place instead of being subjected to the Challenger. Since Sixers are coming on the back of a victory and Scorchers after being beaten by the Brisbane Heat, the Pink brigade is more likely to have greater confidence. However, Scorchers, who won eight of their last nine games to reach the second spot in the table cannot be taken lightly what so ever. Moreover, the Orange brigade also has a history of playing the most number of BBL finals in the brief history of the league so far. 

Sixers will bank on proven talent to deliver

One of the most experienced sides in the tournament this year, Sixers would bank on its proven worldwide talent of all-rounders Dan Christian, Moises Henriques and Carlos Brathwaite to take them through to the finals. And it is not for nothing that these match-winners are the aces for the Sixers as all of them in the tournament so far have proven their worth by winning games singlehandedly, from positions, where winning seemed impossible at one moment. 

Christian has so far scored 252 runs at an average of more than 36 and a strike rate of more than 186. Not only that he has 13 wickets to his credit as well while Brathwaite has taken 15 wickets. Henriques has had an impact in just three innings, scoring 137 runs in them with an average of more than 45.  Along with these experienced blokes, the likes of Josh Philippe and James Vince in the batting department and  Ben Dwarshuis and Steve O’Kefee in bowling make the Pink team a really dangerous proposition. 

Jhye Richardson & Colin Munro- Scorchers' main weapons 

While Stars have experienced all-rounders the team Perth will back their seasoned campaigners too as Jhye Richardson and Colin Munro, the two men with terrific form alongside them. Richardson, who has 27 scalps to his name in this tournament so far has been outstanding in all the matches except the last one, Munro, who has scored 411 runs this season in just 13 innings has a similar story as well as he too failed to impress in the last game. 

However, one failure does not take away from them the good that they have done throughout the tournament and the way they have carried Scorchers through to the Finals. Hence the team would bank on these two to hit form one more time and get them to the finals. 

Sixers vs Scorchers: Match Details

Match: Qualifier

Date and Time: 30th January 2021 01:45 pm IST, 07:15 pm Local, 08.30 am GMT

Venue: Manuka Oval

Broadcast and Live Streaming: Sony SIX and Sony LIV

Pitch Report

The pitch at Manuka oval has proved to be true wicket throughout the course of the tournament so far. The dryness has increased though with passing time and hence spinners would be getting assistance from the wicket. 

Weather and Bat Flip

The weather has been predicted to remain ideal for playing cricket with at least 25% cloud cover throughout the evening and a mild Northwesterly wind blowing throughout. With the wicket being dry in the day time and swing on offer early on, the skipper winning the flip would look to bowl first. 

Sixers Strongest XI

Josh Philippe (wk), James Vince, Daniel Hughes, Moises Henriques (c), Jordan Silk, Daniel Christian, Carlos Brathwaite, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Steve OKeefe, Jake Ball

Scorchers Strongest XI

Jason Roy, Liam Livingstone, Colin Munro, Josh Inglis (wk), Mitchell Marsh, Ashton Turner (c), Aaron Hardie, Jhye Richardson, Andrew Tye, Jason Behrendorff, Fawad Ahmed

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