Spring Challenge 2026 Final: Sydney Sixers Win First Title
Published on October 22, 2026
Summary Overview: Sydney Sixers beat Perth Scorchers by 15 runs in the T20 Spring Challenge 2026 final at Cricket Central. Captain Erin Burns hit 41 and took 1 for 21 to be Player of the Match, and Frankie Nicklin took 3 for 33.
Who won? Sydney Sixers, by 15 runs. They made 149 for 8 and held Perth Scorchers to 134 for 7 at Cricket Central, Sydney.
Who starred? Captain Erin Burns made 41 off 36 and took 1 for 21, and was named Player of the Match. Spinner Frankie Nicklin took 3 for 33, and Caoimhe Bray held four catches.
Is it their first title? Yes. Hobart Hurricanes won the first two editions, in 2024 and 2025. The Sixers are the tournament's first new champions.
What about the Scorchers? Lilly Mills took 3 for 19, the best figures of the final, but Perth's batters could not keep up with the rate in the middle overs.
The Story: From Net Run Rate to the Trophy
The Sixers only just made the semi-finals. They finished 3rd with two wins from four, level on points with three other teams, and went through on net run rate. Then they beat the unbeaten Sydney Thunder in the Sydney derby semi-final, and now they are champions.
For readers new to cricket: in a T20 match, each team bats for up to 20 overs (an over is six legal deliveries). A team wins by runs when it bats first and the other side cannot reach its total.
Sixers' Innings: Burns Leads the Rebuild
Burns won the toss and chose to bat. Elsa Hunter raced to 13 off 6 before Ebony Hoskin bowled her, and Lauren Kua (24) and Claire Moore (23) took the Sixers to 62 for 1.
Then the Sixers lost three wickets for 11 runs. Mills had Moore caught behind, and Kua and Lauren Cheatle were both run out. At 73 for 4 in the 11th over, the final was wide open.
Burns and Caoimhe Bray (24 off 20) steadied things with a stand of 53 off 41 balls. Burns was bowled by Mills in the 19th over for 41, and the Sixers finished on 149 for 8. Mills took 3 for 19, and the Scorchers ran out three Sixers batters in total.
Scorchers' Chase: A Good Start, Then the Squeeze
Ines McKeon (17 off 10) and Katie Mack (23 off 16) gave Perth a quick start with 36 in 20 balls. When Nicklin removed McKeon and Sarah Coyte had Mack caught, the Scorchers were still well placed on 46 for 2.
Mikayla Hinkley (31 off 27) and captain Chloe Piparo (17) took them to 84 for 2 in the 11th over. Then the Sixers' spinners closed in.
Turning Point: Three Wickets for 12 Runs
Burns had Piparo caught, Juliette Morton bowled Hinkley, and Morton then had Alyssa Dermody caught. The Scorchers slid from 84 for 2 to 96 for 5 in the 14th over, needing 54 from 39 balls.
Ruby Strange (14) and Taneale Peschel (20 not out) added 33, but the Sixers' bowlers gave nothing away. Sarah Coyte went for just 18 from her four overs, Burns and Morton for 21 each. Nicklin removed Strange and stumped Amy Edgar in the final over, and Perth finished 15 short.
Bray took four catches, including Piparo and Dermody.
Stat Corner
Top Performers
| Player | Team | Performance |
| Erin Burns (c) | Sydney Sixers | 41 (36), 4 fours, and 1 for 21 (4 overs), Player of the Match |
| Frankie Nicklin | Sydney Sixers | 3 for 33 (4 overs) |
| Juliette Morton | Sydney Sixers | 2 for 21 (4 overs) |
| Sarah Coyte | Sydney Sixers | 1 for 18 (4 overs) |
| Caoimhe Bray | Sydney Sixers | 24 (20) and 4 catches |
| Lilly Mills | Perth Scorchers | 3 for 19 (4 overs) |
| Mikayla Hinkley | Perth Scorchers | 31 (27), 1 six |
| Katie Mack | Perth Scorchers | 23 (16), 4 fours |
| Taneale Peschel | Perth Scorchers | 20* (22) |
* not out
How the Final Turned
| Moment | Score |
| Sixers' good start | 62 for 1 (7.1 overs) |
| Three wickets for 11 runs | 62 for 1 to 73 for 4 |
| Burns and Bray stand | 53 off 41 balls for the 5th wicket |
| Sixers' final total | 149 for 8 (20 overs) |
| Scorchers' quick start | 36 off 20 balls for the 1st wicket |
| Scorchers well placed | 84 for 2 (10.4 overs) |
| Three wickets for 12 runs | 84 for 2 to 96 for 5 |
| Scorchers finish | 134 for 7, 15 short |
Powerplay Comparison
| Team | First 6 overs |
| Sydney Sixers | 55 for 1 |
| Perth Scorchers | 46 for 1 |
Extras
| Team | Wides bowled |
| Perth Scorchers | 6 |
| Sydney Sixers | 0 |
The Sixers did not bowl a single wide in the final.
Spring Challenge Champions
| Season | Champions | Final |
| 2024 | Hobart Hurricanes | Beat Brisbane Heat |
| 2025 | Hobart Hurricanes | Beat Brisbane Heat by 88 runs |
| 2026 | Sydney Sixers | Beat Perth Scorchers by 15 runs |
Sixers' Road to the Title
| Stage | Result |
| League stage | 3rd, 2 wins from 4 (through on net run rate) |
| Semi-Final 2 | Beat Sydney Thunder by 4 wickets |
| Final | Beat Perth Scorchers by 15 runs |
Playing XIs
| Team | Playing XI |
| Sydney Sixers | Lauren Kua, Elsa Hunter, Claire Moore, Erin Burns (c), Lauren Cheatle, Caoimhe Bray, Courtney Sippel, Hayley Zauch (wk), Sarah Coyte, Frankie Nicklin, Juliette Morton |
| Perth Scorchers | Ines McKeon, Katie Mack, Mikayla Hinkley, Chloe Piparo (c), Alyssa Dermody (wk), Ruby Strange, Taneale Peschel, Lilly Mills, Amy Edgar, Shay Manolini, Ebony Hoskin |
Bench: Sydney Sixers: Maitlan Brown, Maddy Darke, Stella Campbell. Perth Scorchers: Chloe Ainsworth, Rebecca McGrath.
What's Next
The Spring Challenge is the warm-up for the WBBL, and WBBL|12 starts on October 29. The Sixers and Scorchers will also get their Australia stars back, including Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner for the Sixers, and Beth Mooney and Alana King for the Scorchers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the T20 Spring Challenge 2026?
- Sydney Sixers, who beat Perth Scorchers by 15 runs in the final.
Who was Player of the Match in the final?
- Erin Burns, the Sixers captain, for her 41 and 1 for 21.
Have the Sydney Sixers won the Spring Challenge before?
- No. This is their first title. Hobart Hurricanes won in 2024 and 2025.
Who took the most wickets in the final?
- Lilly Mills (3 for 19) for the Scorchers and Frankie Nicklin (3 for 33) for the Sixers.
When does WBBL|12 start?
- October 29, 2026.
Related Guides and Series Coverage
📋 T20 Spring Challenge 2026 Semi-Finals Preview
📋 T20 Spring Challenge 2026 Schedule: Fixtures, Venues and Times