In the Big Bash League 2025-26, Melbourne Big Sydney Sixers will clash with the Perth Scorcher in the Qualifier of the tournament at Perth Stadium on January 20, 2026.
Perth Scorchers were the leader in the league stage with 7 wins in the 10 league games. In the meantime, the 2nd place in the standings belonged to Sydney Sixers, who had 6 and 4 victories in 10 matches.
Although Perth Scorchers have been among the most prominent of BBL and will enter the match as the favourite, yet, Sydney Sixers have started to gain momentum in the second half of the stage particularly with the introduction of an experienced player Steve Smith.
Perth Scorchers Vs Sydney Sixers, Big Bash League 2025-26 Qualifier: Toss Update
Sydney Sixers has also won the coin toss and Steve Smith has chosen to open the bat in the Qualifier of BBL 2025-26.
Perth Scorchers Vs Sydney Sixers, BBL 2025-26 Qualifier: Playing XIs
Sydney Sixers: Babar Azam, Steven Smith, Joshua Philippe(w), Morises Henriques(c), Lachlan Shaw, Jack Edwards, Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Sean Abbott, Mitchell Starc, Ben Manenti.
Perth Scorchers: Mitchell Marsh, Finn Allen, Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis(w), Ash Tumke, Ashton Turner(c), Laurie Evans, Jhye Richardson, Brody Couch, David Payne, Mahli Beardman.
Perth Scorchers Vs Sydney Sixers, Big Bash League 2025-26 Qualifier: Streaming Details
Jio Hotstar live stream qualifier match of the BBL 2025-26 and Perth scorchers/Sydney Sixer. It is also going to be aired live on Star sports network.
THE RISE OF MAHLI
He is the player that the Perth Scorchers supported when they lost their star players, Jason Behrendorff and Andrew Tye, in this summer.
But Mahli Beardman is carrying on with the rewarding that display of faith.
Beardman had just been chosen in the Australian T20 team to fight Pakistan when he struck Tuesday’s qualifying final in Perth in his 2-2 in the third over of the match.
At the moment he took the coveted head of superstar Steve Smith, it was 20 year old Beardman who had Perth in a home BBL final.
What a charm of Mahli Beardman,” Mike Hussey complimented the three overs of the youngster.
It was the eighth Beardman scalp in 4 games. He also trapped the wicket of Josh Philippe with the first ball ahead of him getting Five balls later to Josh Philippe the skipper of the Sixers.
He is a show pony out there isn’t he? teammate Finn Allen joked.
“He bowls quick! Almost decapitated me at training once – it was the last time I saw him and I will not be doing it again!
He can bowl quick, even I agree that he is a bit respected by Smudge (Steve Smith) when he is talking to him after bowling too.
Definitely a one in future.
That was what impressed Aussie great Mike Hussey and what he was witnessing of Beardman in the first year as a starter.
It was pleasant observing Mahli Beardman all through this tournament. Oh, you will find him grow with each game,” he said admiringly.
And the captain’s picked up some good wickets on the way – that increases his confidence.
Beardman concluded his night 3-20 in three overs in a performance that also had seven dot balls.
TOO MUCH FOR SMITH TO CARRY
It is not questionable beyond doubt that Steve Smith has been in electric form with the Sixers; propelling the Sydney based team into a qualifying final.
However, on Tuesday evening against the Perth Scorchers, there was too much left to be done by the Aussie star.
By his teammates – beginning with Babar Azam being unable to arrange his toe second ball and rolling all the way to Jack Edwards releasing his stumps, Smith was left to play single-handedly in Perth when it mattered most to his team.
And the stress was too great on the superstar who holes out in the deep (with 37 out of 24) against rising star Mahli Beardman.
Smith lost Josh Phillipe third of the game and he could only fret by punching his bat.
And that annoyance increased when Moises Henriques gave away his wicket in what should have been described as silly batting by Mike Hussey.
No batting on the part of the captain, Adam Gilchrist said.
“Really surprised by that. An operator as experienced as that.
On top of it, Henriques left Reality T.V and Smith was compelled to switch his style, which was defensive, according to Hussey, to 3- 23.
“He loves a challenge … But he can know now that Steve Smith can actually not afford to make such a big gamble, he moaned.
And the visitors did not get any better than that.
It has been an extremely inconsiderate display of batting, Hussey said.
They have presented some wickets to the Scorchers.
“It’s been a poor performance.”
In humorous moments when Sean Abbott was used as the focus of the comic situation when he lost his batting stick and then struggled to get one toe over the line, Hussey said this would be the highlight of their night.
No good thing has happened to them with the bat, he thought.
“They’d be so disappointed. They had to take somebody to keep Steve Smith company a little, put on a couple of fronts.
The Sixers wound up with a 99-player shortage.
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