Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
The Perth Scorchers celebrate winning the 2013/14 BBL
The Perth Scorchers were crowned Big Bash League (BBL) champions thanks to batsman Shaun Marsh’s outstanding half-century against the Hobart Hurricanes at the WACA.
Marsh was well supported by his younger brother, Mitchell, who hammered 37 runs off just 12 balls.
Scorchers captain Simon Katich would have been regretting his decision to bat first as he himself was caught by Ben Dunk in the cover region off the bowling of Dimitri Mascarenhas for only six runs.
Craig Simmons and Shaun Marsh made up for the early loss of Katich with a 66-run partnership before Simmons was caught by Mascarenhas at third man off the bowling of Evan Gulbis.
Simmons’ fantastic knock of 45 came off 36 balls and included five boundaries and two sixes.
Marsh and Adam Voges kept the runs flowing with a 63-run partnership, during which Marsh brought up his half-century, before Voges was caught by Mascarenhas at long leg off the bowling of Ben Hilfenhaus.
Mitchell Marsh smashed 37 off 12 balls, which included two boundaries and four sixes, before he was clean bowled by Xavier Doherty.
His older brother remained unbeaten on 63 off 43 deliveries, which included two boundaries and three sixes, as the Scorchers ended up making 191 off their 20 overs.
Hilfenhaus, Mascarenhas, Gulbis and Doherty all picked up one wicket apiece.
Chasing 192 to win, the Hurricanes got off to a shoddy start as wicketkeeper Tim Paine was clean bowled by Jason Behrendorff.
Behrendorff struck again in his next over as Dunk was caught by Pat Cummins at mid-on for 17.
Jonathan Wells managed to make 24 runs before he was stumped by Sam Whiteman off the bowling of Brad Hogg.
Travis Birt only made two runs before he was caught by Voges at deep backward square leg off the bowling of Hogg.
Captain George Bailey was the standout performer for the Hurricanes as he hammered 58 runs off 32 balls, which included six boundaries and two sixes, before he was caught by Alfonso Thomas at long-on off the bowling of Cummins.
Despite Hilfenhaus’ 13 and Mascarenhas’ 16, the Hurricanes fell short of their target by 39 runs.
Behrendorff, Thomas and and Hogg snapped up two wickets each, while Cummins chipped in with one.