Perry, van Niekerk power Sixers to final in an absolute nail-biter

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Maryam Mallick
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Perry and Kapp power Sixers to beat Hurricanes twice in Hobart

Ellyse Perry in action. ©Getty Images

With the Brisbane Heat having already cemented their spot in the final, reigning champions Sydney Sixers took on the Melbourne Renegades to battle it out for the remaining spot. The second semi-final was just as thrilling as the first, going into a super over, where the Sixers triumphed.

Having won the toss, the Sixers elected to bat first, getting off to a horror start. The Sixers, who have posted the most sub-100 scores this season, looked like they were going to fold again. They were 20-3 at the end of the Power play, and were then reduced to 33-4, when Sara McGlashan fell in over 10.

Her wicket brought experienced international Dane van Niekerk to the crease. She joined Ellyse Perry for an unbeaten stand of 98, that led the Sixers to a competitive 131-4. Runs continued to flow off Perry's back as she scored yet another century. In this knock though, she struggled to accelerate, reaching 54* off 59. Van Niekerk, on the other hand, was seeing them very well, hammering her way to an unbeaten 51 off 36.

Lea Tahuhu, Georgia Wareham, and Sophie Molinuex claimed a scalp each. Tahuhu finished her spell with figures of 1-18, going at an economy of just 4.50.

In reply, the Renegades got off to an eerily similar start to the Sixers. In the fifth over, they were also at 19-3. It was the 60-run partnership, between Jess Duffin and Molinuex, that steadied the ship and helped set up the chase for the Renegades. Duffin, the aggressor in the stand, eventually departed for 41 off 34, on the back of a good catch by Perry, in the 14th over. Courtney Webb fell shortly afterwards, but a 45 run partnership between Molineux  (55 off 54) and Claire Koski (19 off 14), brought the Renegades close to the finish line. With 13 needed off the last over, Marizanne Kapp was brought into the attack. A boundary, two singles and two doubles followed, leaving three required off the last ball. The Renegades ran two hard, but Molineux was caught just short going for the third. A Super Over followed...

Kapp bowled that too, and remarkably, she did not concede a boundary off it. She went for just six runs. Molly Strano bowled the Super Over for her side. Three singles were conceded off the first three balls. Perry then took Strano for a massive six to ensure her side reached the final for the fourth time. She was named Player-of-the-Match, for her 61 runs, along with a wicket, a catch, and a run out.

The Sixers will now face off against the Heat next week, in their quest to claim a hat-trick of titles.
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