Henriques, Hughes stun Scorchers to seal last-ball win for Sixers

Sydney Sixers 201 for 7 (Hughes 74, Henriques 47*, Behrendorff 3-35) beat Perth Scorchers 197 for 4 (Evans 72, Connolly 37*, Dwarshuis 2-23) by three wickets

Sixers seemed to be cruising to victory at 181 for 3 with two overs left, however then collapsed till skipper Henriques stored his cool in a nerve-jangling ultimate over.

Needing 13 runs off the ultimate over, Henriques blasted a six off reverse quantity Aaron Hardie on the fourth ball after which hit a boundary off the final ball – with one required – to get Sixers over the road in dramatic style.

Sixers will face table-toppers Brisbane Heat in Friday’s Qualifier on the Gold Coast with each groups having the protection internet of a double probability. It was a pricey defeat for Scorchers, who will host an elimination ultimate towards surging Adelaide Strikers on Saturday.

Hughes holed out to Hardie within the fifteenth over with Sixers nonetheless needing 52 runs for victory. The momentum modified when Henriques blasted 10 runs in two deliveries off seamer Andrew Tye within the seventeenth over as Sixers edged forward.

In one other late twist, with Sixers needing 17 off 12 balls, wicketkeeper Josh Inglis held onto a spectacular catch operating again to the boundary to dismiss Jordan Silk and ignite a collapse the place the guests misplaced 4 wickets within the span of eight balls.

But Henriques stepped up and Sixers had the added satisfaction of ending a poor current file to Scorchers, who had gained six of the previous seven matches between the groups.

Scorchers’ bid for a historic three-peat now has to undergo the good distance and so they face the powerful process of changing the dynamic middle-order batter Evans, who departs Perth tomorrow for the UAE’s ILT20.

Scorchers had elected to bat in heat circumstances with gamers undoubtedly grateful of a later begin time in comparison with the final match on the floor between Scorchers-Heat performed within the early afternoon amid oppressive warmth.

Scorchers might want to deal with their top-order woes which once more reared. Opener Sam Whiteman has not obtained going this season, however hit a first-ball boundary and regarded fluent enjoying conventional pictures down the bottom.

He turned slowed down trying cavalier strokes, as catastrophe struck for opening companion Steve Eskinazi who was pressured to retire damage attributable to a finger harm.

Eskinazi sought medical consideration on the finish of the third over earlier than having a life after resumption when Moises Henriques dropped an opportunity at midwicket. But Eskinazi instantly trudged off the sphere with Whiteman dismissed on the subsequent supply after being strangled down the leg facet from recalled seamer Jackson Bird.

It introduced collectively Josh Inglis and Aaron Hardie, who’ve been used to rescuing Scorchers and so they get pleasure from batting collectively. Inglis made an announcement by smashing offspinner Todd Murphy for a primary ball boundary within the eighth over, however he fell later within the over after a faint edge was properly juggled by wicketkeeper Josh Philippe.

But it dropped at the crease in-form Evans, who began cautiously earlier than electing to take the ability surge within the twelfth over. Evans has said his liking for taking the ability surge early in his innings and he proved why by pummelling left-arm seamer Hayden Kerr for 28 runs within the thirteenth over.

Evans was throughout Kerr’s somewhat innocuous tempo as he peppered the boundaries and feasted on deliveries whether or not pitched up or brief. Along the best way he motored previous his half-century off simply 22 balls to earn sturdy applause from the 33, 412 crowd.

Evans and Hardie smashed 41 runs in essentially the most worthwhile energy surge this season by any workforce. Evans continued on his merry approach till holing out within the penultimate over the place he walked waving his bat to a standing ovation from his ever-growing legion of followers.

The jubilant Scorchers devoted have been in a temper for celebration, however the night time led to despair and unfamiliar heartbreak for them.