James Vince’s blistering 95 and disciplined bowling helped Sydney Sixers to beat Perth Scorchers by 27 runs in the Big Bash League (BBL) final at Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday to clinch their second successive title.
The English gun posted the highest score by a Sixers’ batsman in the BBL final scoring 95 from 60 balls including 10 fours and three sixes. Perth posted 161/9 in their allotted 20 overs in reply to Sixers’ 188/6. However, he was not finished there as Vince took two catches, including one mid-air blinder to remove the dangerous Mitch Marsh (11).
Chasing 189, Marsh fell in the 15th over which proved crucial in the context of the match. Left-arm quick Ben Dwarshuis taking 3-37 and also picked up keeper-batsman Josh Inglis for 22. Dwarshuis finished the tournament with 24 wickets.
Vince’s 95 followed his magnificent 98 not out against the Scorchers in The Qualifier, against the same opposition, at Canberra’s Manuka Oval.
It was his third consecutive half-century against Perth. He finished the campaign with 537 runs at an average of 38.35, the most by any Sixers player in one BBL season.
Sixers seamer Jackson Bird was outstanding upfront taking 2-14 from three overs. His two scalps were openers Cameron Bancroft (30 from 19) and Liam Livingstone (45 from 35).
Speedster Sean Abbott finished with figures of 2-33 while all-rounder Dan Christian also bagged two scalps.
Brief Scores: Sydney Sixers 188/6 in 20 overs (James Vince 95, Andrew Tye 2-29, Jhye Richardson 2-45); Perth Scorchers 161/9 in 20 overs (Liam Livingstone 45, Ben Dwarshuis 3-37).
