Perth Scorchers off to a winning start in rain-hit BBL opener

Perth Scorchers, the most successful team in BBL history, kick-started the new season with a win over Sydney Sixers in a rain-hit tournament opener on Sunday (December 14). The 11-over game saw Sixers post 113/5 on the board before Scorchers hunted it down with five balls to spare following a blistering half-century from Cooper Connolly.

Rain threatened to play spoilsport on the opening night of the 15th edition before finally relenting for a 5:35 PM start. It took Scorchers just three deliveries to strike as Aaron Hardie sent Daniel Hughes to the pavilion early. While Josh Philippe hit a couple of boundaries to get the Sixers going in the following over, BBL debutant Babar Azam didn't last long as he miscued a pull shot to depart for just 2. While the boundaries kept coming, Scorchers kept striking at regular intervals to pin their opposition back.

Jack Edwards and Lachlan Shaw then gave the Sixers the much-needed push in the final five overs. Both batters went on a rampage that slowly shifted the momentum again. While Shaw was dismissed in the penultimate over, Edwards remained unbeaten on 46 that ensured Sixers got a competitive total on the board.

The Sixers also got off to a terrific start with the ball when Babar made amends with a great catch at slip to send Mitchell Marsh for a duck. Connolly however took little time to settle down as he smashed just his third delivery for a six. Finn Allen then took on Edwards for a couple of sixes in an over as Scorchers went toe-to-toe with their opponents.

After Allen's dismissal, Hardie effortlessly kept the scorecard ticking with more boundaries before his dismissal at the halfway mark ensured the game was tantalisingly poised. Connolly then shifted the balance once again with successive sixes off Todd Murphy before clearing the ropes again in the following over to bring up his fifty. Even though Connolly himself got dismissed just before getting the job done, Scorchers were comfortably placed as Ashton Turner finished the chase in the final over to give the five-time champions a rollicking start.

Brief scores: Sydney Sixers 113/5 in 11 overs (Jack Edwards 46*, Josh Philippe 28; Brody Couch 2/12) lost to Perth Scorchers 117/5 in 10.1 overs (Cooper Connolly 59; Ben Dwarshuis 2/36) by 5 wickets