The Perth Scorchers have claimed their fifth Big Bash League title thanks to a superb knock by captain Ashton Turner and a heroic effort by teenager Cooper Connolly.
In just his fourth BBL match and twelfth ball faced of the season, 19-year-old Connolly took to the crease after a disastrous run out saw Turner (53 from 32 balls) head to the sheds in the 17th over as the Scorchers chased down Brisbane Heat’s 176-run target.
Needing 40 runs off the final 20 balls, many feared the target was too large for the inexperienced batter, but Connolly was ready for the challenge.
The left-hander smashed the Heat’s James Bazeley over the ropes for six on his second and seventh deliveries, leaving the Scorchers with just 10 to chase off the final over.
The crowd is going NUTS!
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) February 4, 2023
🔊🆙 for this Cooper Connolly SIX as the 19-year-old tries to bring @ScorchersBBL home #BBL12 pic.twitter.com/kurLQZnBiC
While it was Nick Hobson who finished the job with four balls to spare, it was Connolly’s 25 from 11 balls that has everyone talking post-match.
Former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist was lost for words following the teenager’s knock but predicts there will be bigger and better things to come for the young all-rounder.
“I’m speechless, I really am … We won’t forget that name for a while,” Gilchrist told Fox Cricket.
“You talk about fairytales, you could not dream this stuff up.
“I sent Cooper Connolly a message yesterday, last night. I just said, ‘All the best, you’ve done everything you can. Just go out and enjoy it’.
“He messaged back and said, ‘I can’t wait to go out and soak it all up’. He’s got a lifetime memory there.”
Scorchers teammate and opening batter Cameron Bancroft was equally impressed, labelling Connolly a “cult” hero and saying, “It will go down as one of the best cameos to win a game.”
COOOOOOPPPPP!
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) February 4, 2023
No one gets a bigger roar from the Optus Stadium crowd. Unreal #BBL12 #BBLFinals pic.twitter.com/KXJOsOWo1E
Connolly captained Australia in last year’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup in West Indies and is looking towards making his Sheffield Shield debut.
Earlier in the match the Heat, who won the toss and opted to bat first, got off to a rocky start before opener Sam Heazlett and Nathan McSweeney combined for a 79-run second-wicket partnership.
However, Scorchers pace bowler Jason Behrendorff struck twice in the 13th over to dismiss Heazlett (34 off 30 balls) and captain Jimmy Pierson (3 off 3 balls), limiting the Heat to 2-8 in their Power Surge which proved decisive in the final result.
A 16-ball collapse saw the Heat lose 3-13 after a strong return to limit them to 175 runs off their 20 overs, setting the Scorchers a target of 176 runs to win.
The home side responded strongly, knocking 31 runs for the loss of none by the end of the Powerplay before England international Stephen Eskinazi was sent to the sheds after failing to slide his bat during a quick single.
Bancroft (15 from 13 balls) and Aaron Hardie (17 from 13 balls) were next to go, bringing Josh Inglis and captain Turner to the crease.
The pair produced a crucial 80-run partnership for the fourth wicket to swing momentum back in the Scorchers’ favour before Hobson and Conolly arrived at the crease to retain the trophy by five wickets.
The Scorchers remain the most successful BBL franchise with five titles in 12 seasons.