Sixers to bat first against Scorchers
Justin Chadwick |
The Sydney Sixers have won the toss and elected to bat in ‘The Qualifier’ BBL clash with the Perth Scorchers at Optus Stadium.
The winner of Saturday’s match will host the grand final on February 4, with the loser to face off against either the Melbourne Renegades or Brisbane Heat in ‘The Challenger’ on Thursday.
The Scorchers were dealt a double blow heading into the blockbuster clash, with Jhye Richardson (hamstring) failing in his bid to return, and fellow paceman Matt Kelly (concussion) ruled out.
Star spinner Ashton Agar is unavailable due to international commitments.
Pace ace Lance Morris was brought in for Kelly.
The Sixers made one change, bringing in spinner Stephen O’Keefe in place of veteran paceman Jackson Bird.
Steve Smith looms as the key figure in Saturday’s clash, with the former Test skipper thumping scores of 36, 101, 125no and 66 in his four knocks for the Sixers this season.
SIXERS
Josh Philippe (wk), Steve Smith, Kurtis Patterson, Moises Henriques (capt), Jordan Silk, Hayden Kerr, Dan Christian, Ben Dwarshuis, Sean Abbott, Stephen O’Keefe, Izharulhaq Naveed
SCORCHERS
Cameron Bancroft, Stephen Eskinazi, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis (wk), Ashton Turner (capt), Nick Hobson, Cooper Connolly, Andrew Tye, David Payne, Jason Behrendorff, Lance Morris.
