Cooper Connolly has produced a miracle with the bat to lift the Perth Scorchers to the Big Bash title after an incredible victory over Brisbane Heat.
The 19-year-old combined with Nick Hobson to smash the final 41 runs as the Scorchers chased down the Heat’s total of 175 with three balls to spare in front of a record crowd of 53,866 at Perth Stadium.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Stephen Eskinazi run out in comical scenes.
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Connolly, who was playing just his fourth BBL game and had only faced 11 balls this tournament, blasted 25 off just 11 balls.
Hobson crushed 18 off just seven balls after nearly costing his side the victory when he and captain Ashton Turner had a mix up in the middle.
Turner, who was awarded man of the match, smashed 53 off 32 balls to help turn the tide the Scorchers’ way, with the skipper combining with Josh Inglis (26 off 22 balls) for a crucial 86-run stand.
The disastrous run out of Turner with 40 runs still needed put the game back on a knife’s edge.
Connolly then stepped up to the plate with his heroic performance before Hobson, who was responsible for the run out of Turner, cracked a huge six and then followed it up with a four to secure victory with three balls to spare.
Scorchers players streamed onto the field in wild celebrations after the winning runs secured the franchise a record fifth title.
“I thought I absolutely bottled it with that mix-up with the skipper,” Hobson said after the match.
“Cooper came out and just took the pressure straight away.
“He is a 19-year-old kid with a massive future in the game, if you can do that. I was lucky to face that last over, get a few away. Mate, couldn’t be happier.”
MATCH CENTRE: Scorecards, stats and more.
It was the second comical run out of the innings after opening batsman Stephen Eskinazi had a nightmare in the fourth over.
After being called for a quick single by fellow opener Cam Bancroft, Eskinazi inexcusably pulled up short and nonchalantly touched his bat in his crease.
Heat fielder Max Bryant was alert to the chance and threw down the stumps at the bowler’s end with a terrific piece of fielding.
“He got lazy. Put the handbrakes on out there, Eskinazi,” Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting said in commentary.
“The parachute went out way too early. Terrible awareness from Eskinazi.”
The brave Heat did well just to make the decider.
The team sat in last spot on the ladder just 22 days ago before winning four of their last five games to sneak into the finals in fifth spot.
The Heat then won away finals against the Sydney Thunder, Melbourne Renegades and Sydney Sixers to make the decider, but they started as rank underdogs against a Scorchers outfit hunting their another crown.
Brisbane were even labelled “nobodies” by the local newspaper in Western Australia due to the absence of Usman Khawaja, Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson and Marnus Labuschagne to Test duties.
“Just FYI. We keep our receipts,” the Heat tweeted on Saturday alongside a picture of the liftout that was headlined: “Scorchers versus a bunch of nobodies”.
Those ‘nobodies’ stepped up to the plate and gave the Scorchers an almighty scare before Turner, Connolly and Hobson got Perth home.
– with AAP
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