The Big Bash League final between Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers was as exciting as it could be, and the former champions retained the title by clinching a thrilling four-wicket victory at the Manuka Oval, Canberra today.
However, Sydney was very much in the contest and could have clinched the victory but they missed a run out opportunity in the final ball of the innings as Yasir Arafat scrambled for a suicidal single.
Earlier, in the final over of his career, speedster Brett Lee almost scripted history by dismissing two batsmen in the fourth and fifth ball of the innings, but he couldn’t complete the hattrick as Arafat managed to negotiate the yorker.
The retired superstar, Lee castled Nathan Coulter-Nile and Sam Whitman on successive balls, giving the Sixers an upper hand in the encounter, but skipper Moises Henriques fumbled a throw and allowed Arafat, who was out by distance, to complete the run.
Earlier, batting first the Sixers only managed to score 147 in 20 overs thanks to a splendid innings from Henriques (57-ball 77) and Ryan Carter (35 not out). But, Scorchers chased the target owing to some luck and heavy contribution from the top-order.
