Beardman wins Smith battle as Perth Scorchers book home grand final
The home side could only post 147, but on a pitch assisting the pace bowlers that proved more than enough
20/01Result
Qualifier (D/N), Big Bash League at Perth, Jan 20 2026
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![Perth Scorchers]( "Perth Scorchers")
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![Sydney Sixers]( "Sydney Sixers")
99 (15/20 ov)
Player of the Match
20/01Result
Qualifier (D/N), Big Bash League at Perth, Jan 20 2026
-
![Perth Scorchers]( "Perth Scorchers")
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![Sydney Sixers]( "Sydney Sixers")
99 (15/20 ov)
Player of the Match
Match Centre
Statistics
Best performances - Batsmen
SPD Smith
37(24) 2x4 - 2x6
Control %72%
- Productive Shot
- pull
- 8 runs
- 0x4 - 1x6
Match Details
Series
Toss
Sydney Sixers , elected to field first
Player Of The Match
Series result
Perth Scorchers advanced
Season
Hours of play (local time)
16.30 start, First Session 16.30-18.00, Interval 18.00-18.20, Second Session 18.20-19.50
Match days
20 January 2026 - day/night match (20-over match)
Umpires
TV Umpires
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
Scorecard Summary
PERTH SCORCHERS 147/9 (20 OVERS)
- Ashton Turner29 (21)
- Finn Allen49 (30)
- Ben Dwarshuis2/23 (4)
- Jack Edwards2/25 (4)
SYDNEY SIXERS 99 (15 OVERS)
- Steven Smith37 (24)
- Lachlan Shaw15 (13)
- Cooper Connolly2/10 (2)
- Mahli Beardman3/20 (3)
Scorer: Ranjith P | Commentator: Alex Malcolm
END OF OVER:15 | 8 Runs 1 Wkt | SS: 99/10 (49 runs required from 30 balls, RR: 6.60, RRR: 9.80)
- Mitchell Starc1 (2b)
- Jhye Richardson3-0-20-1
- David Payne3-0-13-2
Thanks for your company tonight. Keep an eye out for Tristan Lavalette's report and post-game coverage. All eyes turn to Hobart tomorrow when Hurricanes host Stars. The winner will play Sixers on Friday for a spot in the final against Scorchers in Perth on Sunday. Join us then.
Finn Allen is player of the match for his 49 off 30 in a low scoring game.
Chander: "Finn Allen deserved Man of the match in the last match as well. Not a good sign for India which is going to play 5 T20s against NZ"
Mahli Beardman on Fox: "Absolutely buzzing. That was an incredible win. [Biggest moment of my career] No doubt. It was the [Under 19] World Cup previously but that tops it easily. It was quite hard taking the emotion away from bowling to someone I've idolised in Steve Smith, it was a little bit of a pinch me moment, but I wanted to take all the emotion away from it and focus on bowling a decent ball. AT [Ashton Turner] was incredible. He said try and get this [bouncer] fourth, fifth stump, get it a little bit wider because we knew he'd try and get inside it to take it on over fine leg. That was just the experience of AT."
7.35pm Scorchers will host the BBL final on Sunday. Sixers are bowled out for 99 chasing 147. That was an epic collapse. They were 63 for 3 and lost 7 for 36. Beardman's 3 for 20 was the difference. He took two in the last over of the powerplay and then bounced out Steven Smith on 37 to change the game. Sixers now have to travel back to Sydney tomorrow to host the Challenger on Friday against the winner of Hurricanes Stars and then if they win they will have to make a third cross country flight in a week to play the final. It will be the Scorchers ninth final in 15 seasons. They have won five and lost three.
Sami: "When you play terrible shots, this is what often happens. the only comfort for the Sixers is the fact they get to play at home but winning means coming back here again"
ray: "Sixers have hugely missed Sam Curran today.Penny for his thoughts across in Sri Lanka..."
14.6
W
Richardson to Dwarshuis, OUT, top edge straight up and Inglis pouches it! Scorchers are into the final! Bouncer over middle, he tries to pull and gets a top edge, it flies towards short fine leg, Inglis gets under it and takes the catch to ignite a huge roar from the home fans
BJ Dwarshuis c †Inglis b Richardson 10 (14m 11b 1x4 0x6) SR: 90.9
Rio : "How could you not chase 147 with Abbott and Starc coming at 10 and 11?"
14.5
1
Richardson to Starc, 1 run, back of a length, on the hip, he tucks it to short fine
Craig: "This might be the worst run chase I've ever watched in my life "
14.4
1
Richardson to Dwarshuis, 1 run, full on off, he drives to mid-off and takes one
14.3
2
Richardson to Dwarshuis, 2 runs, Richardson fumbles the winning run out! Driven to long-on, Starc tries a suicide second, the throw is low to Richardson and he misses it! If he gathered cleanly the game was over!
14.2
4
Richardson to Dwarshuis, FOUR, lofted over mid-off! Full on off, he clears the front leg and lofts it up and over mid-off!
Josh: "This has been one of the worst implosions you see a chasing side do in a long time !!!"
14.1
0
Richardson to Dwarshuis, no run, yorker on leg, he digs it out back to the bowler
Match Coverage
All Match NewsFinn Allen's sixy BBL season a result of 'stable base' and a 'really clear game plan'
Having hit a record 37 sixes this BBL season, Allen has tweaked his technique and also allowed himself to settle into an innings, which has been key to his success
Beardman revels in 'pinch-me' moment during contest between generations
His absorbing, albeit brief, battle with Steven Smith will long live in the memory
Beardman wins Smith battle as Perth Scorchers book home grand final
The home side could only post 147, but on a pitch assisting the pace bowlers that proved more than enough
Connolly in search of runs, but shining with the ball
The allrounder started the BBL season in fine form with the bat but is in a lean run heading into finals
