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Perth Scorchers are rated very highly in the Big Bash League (BBL) and there’s a robust reason for the same. Scorchers, who won their record-fifth Big Bash League title on Saturday 4 are the most successful team in the history of the competition as no other unit has managed to enjoy such a consistent run in the event.
But when did it all start actually? It was on February 7, 2014 when a Simon Katich-led Perth side bagged the honour of clinching its first-ever BBL title after emerging victorious against Hobart Hurricanes by 39 runs.
Perth won the toss and elected to bat first at the Western Australia Cricket Association (WACA) Ground in Perth. Scorchers were off to a slow start when Katich was caught by Ben Dunk off a Dimitri Mascarenhas’ delivery for just six runs.
However, opener Craig Simmons gave Scorchers some momentum with his 45-run knock off 36 balls. Shaun Marsh, who joined the opener, made an incredible comeback after suffering a calf strain during the ODI series against England at home. He scored an unbeaten 63 off 43 balls to help Scorchers reach 191.
In response to the daunting total, Hurricanes skipper George Bailey (58 off 32), fought valiantly but the scoreboard pressure ultimately proved to be too much for Hurricanes. Hurricanes were unable to effectively target the Scorchers’ bowling as Tim Paine (7 runs) was sent packing early on in the innings and Ben Dunk (17 off 14) followed ten balls later. Immediately after, Travis Birt (2 runs) and Evan Gulbis (6 runs) lost their wickets, and Mascarenhas then fell prey to Alfonso Thomas at an individual score of 16 runs.
The remaining batters were Cameron Boyce (1* run) and Ben Hilfenhaus (13* runs) and were unable to get the side ahead as the damage had already been done. Brad Hogg turned out to be the best bowler who weighed down Hobart’s batters with bowling figures of two for 17 in his four overs.
The crowd at the WACA had already witnessed their team lose at the last hurdle twice in the previous editions, however, not this time around.
