AFTER a scintillating season of Big Bash cricket, the grand final is upon us.
The Melbourne Stars and the Sydney Thunder are set to clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday night to determine who will be the winner of BBL05.
Neither side has progressed this far since the Big Bash League’s inception.
The Sydney Thunder made their transformation from easy-beats to BBL finalists complete on Friday night after recording a comprehensive victory over the Strikers at Adelaide Oval.
The Strikers lost early wickets but were able to post a respectable total that exceeded 150 runs, but Thunder star Usman Khawaja took his game to the next level for his team.
Khawaja ended up torching the Strikers for 104 off just 59 balls to ensure his team’s place in BBL|05.
Such was the dominance of Khawaja’s innings that his opponent on Sunday Kevin Pietersen cheekily called for the international selectors to call him up to the Australian squad.
“We probably would appreciate if Cricket Australia call him up for the (ODI against India on Saturday),” Pietersen said.
“I think he probably deserves it as Australia’s No.1 batsman at the moment to play on Sunday,
“So, Cricket Australia, pick him!”
After four consecutive seasons of stumbling at the final hurdle, the Melbourne Stars have finally made their way to the big stage and a shot at the Big Bash League title after sweeping aside the Scorchers on Friday night.
The Stars were able to restrict the reigning champions to a modest total and ran down their tally almost effortlessly.
Man of the match Kevin Pietersen was glowing of his team’s performance in the aftermath of the win.
“It’s the sign of a very, very good side that we can come in here and do a job like that, win the toss, perform and then we just knock (the target) off,” Pietersen said.
“All the guys who went out there after winning the toss deserve all the credit.”
The final is set to be played on the Stars’ home turf of the MCG.
Players to watch
Melbourne Stars: Kevin Pietersen
Who else but KP?
Pietersen has been one of the most entertaining figures in world cricket since he burst onto the scene during England’s successful 2006 Ashes campaign, and has brought that showmanship to the BBL.
Pietersen dominated in the semi-final, smashing a flashy 62 off 36 balls for his side, and will again be the man called upon to get his side over the line on Sunday at the MCG.
Sportsbet has Kevin Pietersen at $3.00 to be the top run scorer for the Stars on Sunday
Sydney Thunder: Usman Khawaja
Khawaja has been the go-to man for both his franchise and his country across the Australian summer.
He has scored big centuries for the test team and the Sydney Thunder, but his focus is now on the Big Bash League final where his side will be looking to secure their first ever BBL title.
He was unstoppable in the semi-final on Friday night and if he can replicate that form on Sunday there will be no stopping the Thunder.
Sportsbet has Usman Khawaja at $6.00 to be the top run scorer for the Thunder on Sunday
Who will win and why
All odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au
Result: Sydney Thunder – $1.95
Player to score a fifty: Usman Khawaja- $2.95
So it all comes down to this; two teams who have never reached this point of the Big Bash League season facing off for the title at Australia’s home of cricket the MCG.
The Melbourne Stars have been to the semi-final stage four times in four seasons but finally broke through on Friday night after hammering the two-time champions the Perth Scorchers.
The Stars have dealt the losses of star players Johnathan Hastings, James Faulkner and Glenn Maxwell but the remaining players have stepped up admirably in their absence.
The Thunder have made a remarkable turnaround from the perennial easy-beats to formidable franchise in such a short period of time.
The Thunder invested wisely in the experienced Jacques Kallis and Mike Hussey, while adding prodigious talent around their main guys to put together a wonderful side.
It will be a terrific match that should go down to the wire.
The Thunder have not had their side be savaged by the international call ups anywhere near as badly as the Stars and still have their absolute top shelf talent at their disposal.
Sydney have game winners in both the bowling and batting departments and should prove too much for the Stars despite having to travel down to Melbourne to face their opponents.
Expect the Sydney Thunder to notch up their first Big Bash League title on their first visit to the final.
