Recap: Final (N), Perth, February 04, 2023
The Perth Scorchers have won their fifth Big Bash League title in dramatic scenes, by defeating the Brisbane Heat by five wickets (with 4 balls remaining), courtesy of a heroic knock from captain Ashton Turner and some late fireworks from teenager Cooper Connolly.
Brisbane Heat 175/7
Perth Scorchers 178/5 (19.2/20 ov, T:176)
Brisbane Heat decided to bat first, after winning the toss, in front of a record crowd of 53,886 at Optus Stadium on Saturday evening, against the defending champions Perth Scorchers. Brisbane Heat scored 175/7 in their 20 overs. Nathan McSweeney (41 in 37 balls), Sam Heazlett (34 in 30 balls) and Max Bryant (31 in 14 balls) were among the runs for Brisbane Heat. Matthew Kelly and Jason Behrendorff took 2 wickets each for Perth Scorchers.
Chasing a target of 176 runs, Perth Scorchers reached their target in the 20th over with just four balls to spare. The Scorchers had lost their first three wickets for 54 runs by the 8th over. Then the skipper Ashton Turner (53 in 32 balls ) and wicket-keeper Josh Inglis (26 in 22 balls) rescued the innings with a crucial 80 run partnership in the middle overs to shift momentum back to the Scorchers.
Brisbane Heat were back in the game after taking two wickets to get rid of both Ashton Turner (134-4) and Josh Inglis (137-5); however the 19 year old Cooper Connolly was up for the task when he came into bat with his team needing 38 runs from 19 balls. Playing just his fourth BBL match, Connolly cracked an unbeaten 25 (11) to guide the Scorchers to victory.
Perth Scorchers’ skipper Ashton Turner won the player of the match award while Adelaide Strikers’ Matthew Short won the player of the series award.