Connolly leads Scorchers to victory in BBL season opener

Babar Azam struggled to handle a bouncy Optus Stadium surface in a tough BBL initiation, before in-form Cooper Connolly stole the show to power Perth Scorchers to a five-wicket victory over rival Sydney Sixers.

In a truncated tournament season-opener, reduced to 11 overs per side, Babar could not get going. He made just 2 off 5 balls in an anti-climactic BBL debut. Sixers did recover, with a stunning assault in the backend, to finish with 113 for 5.

But it proved not enough in good batting conditions - despite the earlier inclement weather - as Connolly starred with 59 off 31 balls. The knock came on the back of his strong recent efforts for Australia and Australia A.

Just two days before the IPL auction - where he is fancied to earn a maiden deal - Connolly did his chances no harm. Batting at No. 3, Connolly whacked five sixes in a reminder of his x-factor ability, which has seen him likened to Glenn Maxwell and Travis Head.

He completely dominated a 48-run fourth-wicket partnership with skipper Ashton Turner, before holing out with nine runs needed off nine balls. His absence from the crease did not matter, as Scorchers hauled down the target with five balls to spare.

Heavy rain and lightning caused the start of the match to be delayed by 80 minutes. The downpour meant the covers were used for the first time for a BBL game at Optus Stadium since the ground opened in 2018.

Once the game got going, with the ground's drainage having worked wonders, Babar entered the crease after Sixers were sent into bat. There was much anticipation for Babar's BBL debut, who headlines a slew of Pakistan stars taking part in this season's tournament. But Babar, sporting 056 on the back of his magenta jersey, struggled to handle the extra bounce and trudged off the ground before the end of the third over.

Babar was lucky to survive two near chances on his third and fourth deliveries, but off the latter, he did score his first BBL runs, when he sliced just past two fielders in the cover region.

His luck quickly ran out on the next ball when he hit a hard length delivery from quick Brody Couch straight to mid-on.

Sixers were reeling at 15 for 2, with opener Daniel Hughes having already fallen for a duck in the first over. But they recovered strongly through muscular batting from Josh Philippe, Lachlan Shaw and Jack Edwards, who bludgeoned 46 off 21 balls to lift Sixers to respectability.

A new-look Scorchers attack, boasting recruits Couch and Joel Paris, fell away after a bright start when they had Sixers in big trouble at 41-4.

Even though Sixers' total ballooned, Scorchers were confident given the hard surface and lightning outfield. The fans in the terraces, many of whom were garbed in orange, were giddy over the prospect of power-hitters Mitchell Marsh and Finn Allen joining forces at the top of the order.

But Marsh, who had played just one BBL game in the past three seasons, fell for a third ball duck when he edged seamer Charlie Stobo to a leaping Babar, who took a fine catch above his head at first slip.

Allen had electrified the Scorchers faithful almost exactly 12 months ago with a first-ball six to launch his BBL career, but he was more circumspect to begin with, before launching Edwards for two huge sixes in the third over.

Allen, though, could not kick on after holing out to offspinner Todd Murphy for 16. But the wickets proved to be just blips, as Connolly took over with a slew of audacious strokes in a whirlwind knock, which undoubtedly caught the attention of IPL power brokers.