Connolly shines as Scorchers beat Sixers in rain-hit BBL opener

The Big Bash League season-opener in Perth overcame an 80-minute delay caused by heavy rain and lightning to produce an entertaining, shortened contest, with Perth Scorchers defeating Sydney Sixers by five wickets in an 11-overs-a-side match at Optus Stadium.

After being sent in to bat, the Sixers posted 113 for 5, recovering well from early trouble. However, the total proved insufficient on a hard, true surface as Cooper Connolly’s explosive 59 off 31 balls guided the Scorchers to victory with five balls to spare.

There was significant anticipation around the BBL debut of Pakistan star Babar Azam, but the opener endured a difficult start to his campaign. Struggling to cope with the extra bounce on offer, Babar managed just 2 off 5 deliveries before being dismissed by Brody Couch, hitting a hard-length ball straight to mid-on. His departure left the Sixers reeling at 15 for 2, with Daniel Hughes having already fallen for a duck in the opening over.

The Sixers’ innings was revived by aggressive contributions from Josh Philippe and Lachlan Shaw, before Jack Edwards launched a late assault, smashing 46 off just 21 balls to lift his side to a competitive total. Earlier, the Scorchers’ new-look bowling attack, including Couch and Joel Paris, had reduced the visitors to 41 for 4 before losing momentum in the latter stages.

Despite the rain earlier in the evening, Optus Stadium’s drainage ensured good batting conditions once play began. Perth’s chase, however, started shakily. Mitchell Marsh was dismissed for a third-ball duck, edging Charlie Stobo to Babar Azam, who took a sharp catch at first slip. Finn Allen showed flashes of brilliance with two towering sixes but failed to build on his start, departing for 16.

From there, Connolly took centre stage. Batting at No. 3, the 20-year-old showcased his growing reputation as an exciting all-round talent, striking five sixes in a commanding innings that dominated a 48-run partnership with skipper Ashton Turner. Connolly eventually holed out with nine runs still required, but Turner remained unbeaten on 16 to steer the Scorchers home comfortably.

Connolly’s performance came just two days before the IPL auction, where he is expected to attract interest following strong recent displays for Australia and Australia A. His innings in the BBL opener further underlined his x-factor potential, drawing comparisons with players such as Glenn Maxwell and Travis Head.

The match marked the first time covers had been used for a BBL game at Optus Stadium since its opening in 2018, and despite the weather disruption, the season began with a statement win for the Scorchers and a memorable individual performance from Connolly.