Jhye Richardson and Aaron Hardie steer Perth Scorchers to opening victory of new Big Bash season

Chasing a total of 156 with a strong batting lineup, Sixers never really threatened the Scorchers and they were bundled out for 117 from the final delivery of the match, as Richardson dominated with the ball

Perth: Perth Scorchers 155-9, Sydney Sixers 117 - Perth Scorchers won by 38 runs

Scorecard

Perth Scorchers opened their Big Bash title defence in fine form as they defeated Sydney Sixers by 38 runs at Optus Stadium in Perth.

Chasing a total of 156 with a strong batting lineup, the Sixers never really threatened the Scorchers and they were bundled out for 117 from the final delivery of the match, as Jhye Richardson dominated with the ball.

The Scorchers won the bat flip and decided to bat first, but their decision seemed to have backfired initially, as they lost half their side for 49 in seven overs.

^{Perth Scorchers beat Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash [Getty Images]}

^{Aaron Hardie made an important half-century for Perth [Getty Images]}

However, Aaron Hardie provided stability in the middle order. He controlled the game, stitching together a partnership with Ashton Agar worth 71 runs to guide the Scorchers to a respectable total. Hardie smashed 55 off just 32 balls, while Agar scored a run-a-ball 24.

In the chase, Sixers had a similar progression to their innings. They kept losing wickets at regular intervals and found themselves in trouble at 31 for 5 after 7.3 overs.

Hayden Kerr and Jordan Silk tried to build a partnership and got the Sixers back in the contest, with 50 runs required in the final four overs and two set batsmen at the crease.

^{Hardie and Ashton Agar's partnership stabilised the Scorchers' innings [Getty Images]}

^{Sixers were bowled out for 117 chasing 156 [Getty Images]}

However, Richardson and Matthew Kelly dismissed Kerr and Silk respectively in consecutive overs, to kill off any lingering Sixers hopes.

Richardson was the standout bowler with figures of 4 for 9 from four miserly overs, while Jason Behrendorff collected 2 for 22.

Interestingly, the game maintained an early BBL pattern this season - this was the fifth consecutive match where a team batting first has won. 

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