HOT SCORCHERS ICE HEAT TO SAIL INTO BBL FINAL

THE Perth Scorchers have overcome a rollercoaster week to book their place in the Big Bash decider after they cruised past the Heat to set up a rematch with bitter rivals the Sydney Sixers.

Having lost to the men in magenta last week, the Scorchers had to deal with a venue change after COVID drama in Western Australia meant they couldn’t play at their fortress Optus Stadium.

They were dealt another blow when import Jason Roy was ruled out of the Challenger due to an ankle injury, but the rest of the toporder stepped up as they pasted the Heat’s attack to all parts of Manuka Oval.

Opener Liam Livingstone (77 off 39) blasted six sixes, while the recalled Cameron Bancroft (58 off 42) and Mitch Marsh (49 off 28) added an unbeaten 75 before rain ended Perth’s innings 11 balls early.

The seventh BBL halfcentury of Livingstone’s career was perhaps his finest knock on these shores, while Marsh was equally impressive just days after he was fined for a foul-mouthed tirade at the umpires during the loss to Sydney. “I was due to score some runs for the boys this tournament,” Livingstone said. “I haven’t quite got going as many times as I would have liked, but ... got a few out of the middle to get us off to a decent start.”

Set a revised target of 200 from 18 overs, the Heat needed openers Joe Denly and Chris Lynn to put a big dent in the target.

Instead, Jason Behrendorff removed the pair with the final two deliveries of the power play to seal Brisbane’s fate.

Any hopes for a miracle were quickly to bed when last-start hero Sam Heazlett fell meekly, before Marnus Labuschagne was cleaned up by Fawad Ahmed for 15.

The captains could only laugh during the pre-game bat flip as the bat landed on its side not once, but twice.

Thursday’s result sets up a juicy decider between the Scorchers and the Sixers, with the teams set to meet in a Big Bash final for the fourth time in 10 years.