Dominant Sixers set up sixth Perth Scorchers final date

Only two nights ago, the Sydney Sixers flew eastward, wounded and chastened. Having earned the right to reverse that journey, they now stand on the precipice of a sixth final against the Perth Scorchers at Optus Stadium. The path demanded they first vanquish the defending champions. And vanquish them they did. The Hobart Hurricanes, outclassed by 57 runs, now fade into memory as the Sixers set their sights westward once more.

The seeds of this dream final were planted by another superb knock from Steve Smith. In tonight's challenger, he struck 65 off just 43 deliveries, cracking nine fours and a six to help propel the Sixers to 198.

He began slowly, scoring just 11 off his first eight balls, but dominated a 64-run stand for the second wicket with Josh Philippe. When Smith eventually fell, the Sixers had 120 on the board in the 13th over. Useful knocks from Joel Davies and Lachlan Shaw, who between them plundered 48 runs off just 25 balls, helped maintain momentum.

The Hurricanes struck back late, but the total had already been pushed beyond chaseable realms, especially on a surface where slower deliveries proved difficult to dispatch.

The holders began brightly with a flurry of boundaries, but Mitch Owen departed in the second over. Sean Abbott accounted for the other opener, Tim Ward, in the next over.

Captain Ben McDermott and Beau Webster stitched together a 48-run stand but consumed 41 balls doing so, meaning the Hurricanes were always behind. When collapse arrived—they lost 4 for 14—the champions were snuffed out of the contest. Joel Davies claimed two of those wickets while Mitchell Starc returned to take the prized scalp of McDermott. Ben Dwarshius wrapped up the tail to finish with 3 for 26.

Brief scores: Sydney Sixers 198/8 in 20 overs (Steve Smith 65; Riley Meredith 3-52) beat Hobart Hurricanes 141 in 17.2 overs (Ben McDermott 40; Ben Dwarshius 3-26, Mitchell Starc 2-29) by 57 runs.