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PERTH: Cooper Connolly smashed 59 off 31balls to propel Perth Scorchers to victory over Sydney Sixers in the opening game of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 here at the Perth Stadium on Sunday.
Set 114, Scorchers chased down the target with five balls to spare, losing five wickets in the process, in a match reduced to 11 overs per side due to rain.
The home side chase started on a poor note as they lost their opening wicket on the third ball of the first over. Mitchell Marsh was caught at first slip by Babar Azam for a duck.
After the early wicket, Finn Allen and Connolly added 39 for the second wicket partnership as the scorecard read 39-1 in 3.5 overs.
Allen was caught after scoring 16 off eight with the help of two maximums.
Sydney Sixers tried to make a comeback with another wicket in the last over of the powerplay. Jack Edwards sent back Aaron Hardie for 13 to give his side an opening, however Connolly kept the Sixers at bay with his gutsy knock.
Eventually, Scorchers crossed the finishing line despite losing Connolly and Lauria Evans in the ninth over. Skipper Ashton Turner remained unbeaten with 16 from nine balls.
For Sydney Sixers, Ben Dwarshuis picked up two wickets.
Earlier, after being put into bat first, Sydney Sixers managed to put 113 for 5 in their allotted 11 overs.
Scorchers inflicted a poor start on Sixers as both of their opening batters were sent back inside the first three overs. Hughes departed for a duck on the third ball of the innings, followed by Babar Azam’s wicket, who only made two.
As a result, Sydney Sixers were reduced to 15-2 in 2.5 overs.
They were put into further dire straits with wickets in the fourth and fifth over, as seasoned batters Moises Henriques and Josh Philippe went back to the pavilion.
Henriques made nine while Philippe scored 28 from 18 with the aid of three fours and a six.
Despite the wickets, Sixers managed to post a respectable total courtesy of Jack Edwards brisk knock. Edwards hit 46 from 21 balls, laced with two sixes and half a dozen boundaries.
For Perth Scorchers, Brody Couch scalped two wickets in his two overs.
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