Wow, what a final. Perth Scorchers win by five wickets and add to their silverware with a fifth title. You can just never write them off, but this will be heartbreaking for Heat. What a great story with the two players who saw Scorchers home. So in the end it's the favourites who prevail but they were pushed mighty hard. Heat just couldn't close it out. Fine margins. Was a magnificent atmosphere in those closing moments. A fitting end to a resurgent season for the BBL.
ShahSafeer: "What a team, what a captain they have. It's simply outstanding that how often Turner has turned the tables for his side on such situations!"
Cooper Connolly "It's a dream come true when the crowd's behind you. Had full confidence in myself. I felt me and Hobbo, he hits a big ball, had all faith in us. He was pretty good, told me to keep a strong base. It's about celebrating with the boys tonight...enjoy the moment."
AnotherPK: "Respect to the Heat for an amazing season. They've done nothing for years and that included the first half of this season. From New Years they turned it around and when the test players came back they reached a new level. Then they lost 4 players to tests but maintained standards to knock over the Strikers at home and ran the Scorchers close on the big day."
Ashton Turner is Player of the Match: "It's a surreal feeling. I've played a lot of games of cricket but you never know how it will pan out. You've painted the city orange tonight and the support's been overwhelming. We are in rarified air at the moment, have a lot of guys in form and that's not always the case. A lot of guys have contributed to wins throughout the season...we have the confidence we can win from anywhere."
Jimmy Peirson "Thank you to this amazing crowd, what a spectacle. So well done Perth. What a fantastic final. You've been the best team by far this year and thoroughly deserve your win on home turf. Just want to say thank you to this bunch of boys over here, we've come a long way this season, we've had some ups and downs but I'm immensely proud. We'll go again next year."
Perth Scorchers are now being presented with their medals and will soon get their hands on the trophy. I'll wrap things up there for tonight and this BBL season. Thanks for following along throughout, it's been a season with some spectacular cricket and some fun stories along the way. From Peter and Gnasher it's goodbye.
Are Brisbane Heat behind the over-rate? 10 off 6 needed. Neser to bowl. And think they'll need five inside the ring
END OF OVER:19 | 10 Runs | PS: 166/5 (10 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 8.73, RRR: 10.00)
- Nick Hobson8 (5b)
- Cooper Connolly24 (10b)
- Spencer Johnson4-0-37-1
- James Bazley4-0-42-0
Matthew: "More ups and downs than a rollercoaster! "
Spencer Johnson for his last
END OF OVER:18 | 18 Runs | PS: 156/5 (20 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 8.66, RRR: 10.00)
- Cooper Connolly19 (7b)
- Nick Hobson3 (2b)
- James Bazley4-0-42-0
- Xavier Bartlett4-0-31-1
That Scorchers depth we often talk about...
Bazley for his last over
END OF OVER:17 | 8 Runs 2 Wkts | PS: 138/5 (38 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.11, RRR: 12.66)
- Cooper Connolly1 (1b)
- Nick Hobson3 (2b)
- Xavier Bartlett4-0-31-1
- Michael Neser3-0-26-0
Wow, what a moment. Is that the game? Should also say it was a great throw from Johnson
AJ Turner run out 53 (46m 32b 5x4 2x6) SR: 165.62