The BBL|12 Qualifier match between Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers took place at the Perth Stadium on Saturday.
Sydney Sixers won the toss and elected to bat first. Moises Henriques and Jordan Silk were the top scorers for the Sixers, with 58 and 47* runs respectively. Henriques scored his runs off 43 balls with the help of 3 fours and 3 sixes, while Silk hit 4 fours and 1 six during his 34-ball stay in the middle. However, the Sixers could only manage to score 151-8 in 20 overs.
David Payne and Jason Behrendorff were the key bowlers for the Scorchers. Payne grabbed 3 wickets for 33 runs, while Behrendorff took 2 wickets for 17 runs. They were able to restrict the Sixers to a relatively low score, setting up a good chance for the home team to chase the target and win the match.
In response, the Scorchers chased down the target in 18.3 overs, scoring 154-3. Ashton Turner, the Perth Scorchers captain, played a vital role in the Qualifier, smashing 84 not out off just 47 balls, including 9 fours and 1 six. He was well supported by Cameron Bancroft, who scored 53 runs off 45 balls, laced with 6 fours.
The partnership between Turner and Bancroft helped the Orange brigade to stay on track during the chase and reach the target with 7 wickets in hand. It was a commanding performance by the Scorchers, who were able to secure a comfortable victory in the end.
An unbeaten 8️⃣4️⃣ runs, stepping up when the team needed him 💪 Ashton Turner is making a habit of winning big games 😏 #MADETOUGH #BBL12 #FireUpTheFurnace pic.twitter.com/uSuZnooKH5
— Perth Scorchers (@ScorchersBBL) January 28, 2023
For his match-winning performance, Turner was awarded the ‘Player of the match’. His undefeated knock and captaincy helped the Scorchers to secure an emphatic win and advance to the BBL final again.
Ashton Turner again showed tonight what a brilliant short-form player he is in this country. Leads from the front, ice-cool under pressure and has all the skills the best have. I believe he’s been unlucky not to play more cricket for Australia over the last five years. #BBL12
— Adam White (@White_Adam) January 28, 2023