HEA VS SIX T20S

Right then, we have our first confirmed finalists in the form of Sydney Sixers but there are still a couple of big games to go before we find out who joins them in the deciding match. Perth Scorchers will now take on Adelaide Strikers in the Knockout game on Saturday, 20 January and the winner of that one will then go on to face Brisbane Heat for a spot in the final but the loser will be sent home. The Knockout game will begin at 2.10 pm IST (8.40 am GMT) but our build-up to the game will begin a lot sooner. Do join us then. Take care and goodbye!

Ben Dwarshuis is the Player of the Match for his stunning five-wicket haul. He says that it was a competitive total as the wicket was two-paced with a variable bounce and that their plan was pretty simple to stick to the basics and allow the opposition to make mistakes. Adds that it feels great to qualify for the Final and that it will be an enormous opportunity for them to play in front of their home crowd. Ends up saying that they love their fans as they always turn up in huge numbers especially when they play the finals and he is hopeful of lifting the trophy this year.

The Presentation ceremony...

Earlier in the game, Nathan McSweeney won the bat flip and put Sydney Sixers into bat under hot and humid conditions and this decision was backed by his bowlers as they kept things tight and got a couple of early wickets as well. After a sluggish start, the Sixers' skipper Moises Henriques got a hold of the bowlers and really cashed in after being dropped twice in his early twenties. Daniel Hughes played a lovely supporting knock and both of them just turned on the heat in the Power Surge picking 38 runs in two overs. Spencer Johnson was brilliant early on for the Heat and he along with Michael Neser and even Xavier Bartlett who had been put away for plenty early on, stitched a comeback and kept the Sixers down to just 152 runs. Coming to the chase, the Heat never got going and were second-best throughout the chase as a strong group effort with the ball and in the field saw Sydney Sixers sail into the Final.

Brisbane Heat were missing a lot of their key batters and it showed as the players that came in just couldn't do the job under pressure. Josh Brown was probably the biggest culprit as he ate up a lot of deliveries up top and then got out as well. Former skipper, Jimmy Peirson did try a few shots and got some runs but he too fell and after that whoever came in, got into double figures and got out. No one really played an anchor role and once the required rate got out of hand, they had to just go for the shots. The lower order did get a few boundaries away and for a few minutes Matt Renshaw threatened as well but in the end, it was a big defeat for the Heat in front of their home fans.

What a resounding win for Sydney Sixers and they are back in the Grand Finale of the Big Bash League after missing out last time around against this very same Brisbane Heat team and will host the Final at the Sydney Cricket Ground as well a few days from now. The Heat will be disappointed but they will get another bite at the cherry at the same venue either against the Scorchers or the Strikers. Sydney Sixers the second-most decorated team in the history of the competition just seem to have a knack for winning the big games and even though they have struggled in the Finals in recent years, their experience has come good for them this time around. They had a fighting total on the board but their pacers upfront gave them an immaculate start by keeping things really tight. Ben Dwarshuis came in and cashed in on the tight start by dismissing Josh Brown after which they were able to pick up wickets at regular intervals. Moises Henriques was brilliant in his captaincy as he bowled most of the overs of the pacers from one end where they got some additional bounce and plenty of wickets. Jack Edwards and Hayden Kerr got a couple of wickets each but it was Ben Dwarshuis who notched up the best figures in the Finals phase of the BBL and ended with a stunning five-wicket haul.

OUT! CAUGHT! Ben Dwarshuis ends up with a 5-fer and he has picked up the best occasion to do so as he ends up with his career-best figures! Sydney Sixers advance to the Finals! Rolls his fingers on the leather and pitches it wide outside off, Matthew Kuhnemann shuffles across the off stump and ramps it with no real timing on it and it flies straight towards the fine leg where Steve O'Keefe doesn't move an inch and takes an absolute sitter. Sydney Sixers beat the Brisbane Heat by 39 runs and will play the Finals at historic SCG in front of their home crowd.

Identical delivery on the stump line, Matthew Kuhnemann looks to ramp it to fine leg but misses out through to the keeper.

A slower ball around the middle stump line on a fuller length, Matthew Kuhnemann does not connect it well enough but lofts it over the bowler's head for a brace.

Fires on a tad fuller length in front of the sticks, Matthew Kuhnemann shuffles outside leg and swings hard fo go big but misses to connect.

A shade short and on the middle stump line which nips into the batter, Matthew Kuhnemann is on his toes and pats it underneath the bat.

FOUR! Having a bit of fun there Mitchell Swepson! Length delivery outside off, Mitchell Swepson premeditates it and shuffles way outside off and ramps it over the vacant fine leg region for a boundary.

FOUR! That's straight as an arrow! Bowls on a fuller length around middle, Mitchell Swepson shuffles outside leg and lofts it over the bowler's head for a boundary.

Fuller and on the pads, Matthew Kuhnemann flicks it towards mid-wicket for a single.

Matthew Kuhnemann is the last man in for Brisbane Heat.