Erin Burns top-scored with 41 and took 1-21 as the Sydney Sixers beat the Scorchers in the Spring Challenge final. The 38-year-old allrounder, returning from maternity leave, is preparing for her eighth season with the club. Burns said the Sixers have a strong team culture and a new coach, Peter Clarke, who replaces Matthew Mott. The Sixers have kept most of their core players and added Sarah Coyte and Maddy Darke ahead of WBBL|12.
Sydney Sixers have won their first T20 Spring Challenge title, beating the Perth Scorchers by 15 runs in Sydney. Erin Burns starred with bat and ball, scoring 41 and taking 1-21. Spinner Lilly Mills took 3-19 to restrict the Sixers' batting line-up, while Juliette Morton took 2-21 to swing the match back to the home side. The Sixers posted 8-149 and held Perth to 7-134. The win comes ahead of their WBBL|12 opener against Brisbane Heat on October 30.
The Sydney Sixers and Perth Scorchers will play for the T20 Spring Challenge trophy on Wednesday. The Sixers beat Sydney Thunder by four wickets after Laura Harris hit 63 from 24 deliveries. Lauren Cheatle top-scored with an unbeaten 46 to guide the chase. In the other semi-final, Perth beat Adelaide Strikers by five wickets. Chloe Ainsworth took 3-17, and Chloe Piparo finished unbeaten on 57. Both teams are seeking their first title, as the Hobart Hurricanes won the first two editions.
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The third edition of the Spring T20 Challenge begins in Sydney on Monday, October 12. Nine teams, including the eight Big Bash clubs and the ACT Meteors, will play 18 round-robin matches across four venues. The top four teams progress to semi-finals on October 20, with the final on October 21. Every game will be streamed live and is free for fans to attend. The tournament coincides with Australia's white-ball series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, so many contracted players are unavailable. Hobart Hurricanes are the defending champions and are seeking a third straight title.