Young Perth Scorchers speedster Mahli Beardman celebrated his call up to Australia’s T20 team with a match-winning performance in the BBL Qualifier against the Sydney Sixers at Optus Oval on Tuesday.
Beardman took season-best figures of 3-20 from three overs as the Scorchers ran through the Sixers batting line-up for just 99 runs in 15 overs.
The 48-run win sent the Scorchers to the BBL final for a ninth time. They will host that on Sunday, looking for a sixth title.
MATCH CENTRE: Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Sixers live scores, teams, videos
The only place to stream every match of the 2025/26 KFC BBL LIVE is on FOX CRICKET, available on Kayo Sports. | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1 >
Beardman’s wickets were crucial, as the home side had managed just 9-147 in the first innings, thought to be well under par.
His scalps were even more important because they sent the dangerous trio of Josh Philippe, Moises Henriques and Steve Smith back to the shed.
Sydney looked capable of chasing the Scorchers score down until Smith was caught on the fine-leg boundary for 37 runs from 24 balls.
The Sixers will now host the Challenger on Friday, against the winner of Wednesday’s Knockout between the Hobart Hurricanes and the Melbourne Stars.
THE RISE OF MAHLI
He’s the kid the Perth Scorchers backed after the loss of star veterans Jason Behrendorff and Andrew Tye for this summer.
But Mahli Beardman is continuing to reward that show of faith.
Fresh off being named in Australia’s T20 squad to face Pakistan, Beardman turned Tuesday’s qualifying final in Perth’s favour with his 2-2 in the third over of the match.
And when he claimed the prized scalp of superstar Steve Smith, it was 20-year-old Beardman who sent Perth into a home BBL final.
“What a spell from Mahli Beardman,” Mike Hussey praised of the youngster’s three overs.
The Smith scalp was Beardman’s eighth in four games. He also snared the wicket of Josh Philippe first ball before he had Sixers skipper Moises Henriques five balls later.
“He’s a show pony in the field isn’t he?” teammate Finn Allen joked.
“He bowls quick! Nearly took my head off at training one time – it’s the last time I’ll face him and I won’t be doing it again!
“He can bowl quick – even I think he’s got a little bit of respect from Smudge (Steve Smith) when he’s been bowling to him too.
“Definitely one for the future.”
Aussie great Mike Hussey was impressed by what he was seeing from Beardman in his first year as a starter.
“It’s been nice to watch Mahli Beardman throughout this tournament. You can see him growing with every game,” he praised.
“He’s picked up some important wickets along the way – his confidence is growing.”
Beardman finished his night with 3-20 off three overs in a performance that included seven dot balls.
Beardman gets Smith & hes not happy! | 00:51
TOO MUCH FOR SMITH TO CARRY
There’s no doubt Steve Smith has been in scintillating form for the Sixers; lifting the Sydney outfit into a qualifying final.
But on Tuesday night against the Perth Scorchers, too much was left for the Aussie star to do.
“Sloppy play” from his teammates – starting with Babar Azam’s failure to get his toe down second ball and rolling through to Jack Edwards giving away his stumps, left Smith holding his side’s hopes solo in Perth.
And the pressure proved too much for the superstar who holed out in the deep (for 37 off 24) off rising star Mahli Beardman.
Smith could only punch his bat in frustration when he lost Josh Phillipe third over of the match.
And that frustration grew when Moises Henriques threw his wicket away in what Mike Hussey called “silly batting”.
“Poor batting from the captain,” Adam Gilchrist said.
“Really surprised by that. Such an experienced operator.”
Hussey said the loss of Henriques forced Smith to change his aggressive style at 3-23.
“He loves a challenge … But Steve Smith now, he knows he can’t really afford to take a big risk,” he lamented.
And it only got worse from there for the visitors.
“It’s been a really reckless batting display,” Hussey said.
“They’ve gifted some wickets to the Scorchers.
“It’s been a poor performance.”
When Sean Abbott was run out in comical scenes as his lost his bat and then failed to get a toe across the line, Hussey said the moment “sums up their night”.
“With the bat, nothing has gone right for them,” he said.
“They’d be so disappointed. They needed someone to go with Steve Smith for a while, show a bit of composure up front.”
The Sixers ended up all out for 99.
FRUSTRATION FOR INGLIS
It’s been a frustrating summer for Aussie Josh Inglis.
The wicketkeeper has been in and out of the Australian squad – playing just two Tests while also being forced to rest from the BBL under Cricket Australia orders.
And that lack of continuity showed against the Sydney Sixers on Tuesday.
Inglis managed just 2 off 5 – his second successive single digit score after his 1 against the Melbourne Stars.
Inglis is yet to raise his bat since his century made while playing for CA XI against the England Lions in a tour game back in November.
He reached double digits in his two Tests – but didn’t reach higher than 32.
“A really I would imagine frustrating summer for him,” Aussie great Adam Gilchrist said.
“Just because no fluency, no consistent selection in any of the formats.”
“Chopping and changing between facing the red ball and then a white ball,” Mike Hussey added.
“No continuity – playing one game and then you’re out for a few games.
“Going from a Test match to a T20 and then back to the Test match team… it’s very difficult to find that consistency and continuity in your game.
“We know he’s such a good player… he loves to play those sweeps and laps and reverse sweeps off the faster bowlers.”
Against the Sixers, Inglis threw his wicket away as the pressure of dot balls built.
“It was too much for Inglis to handle,” Gilchrist said.
Inglis will want to turn his form woes around quickly given he’s been named in both Australia’s T20 squad to take on Pakistan and the Australian T20 World Cup.
Beardman gets Smith & hes not happy! | 00:51
Catch all the action below in our live blog, if you can’t see it click here!
Discussion about this post