T20-LEAGUE

T20 Spring Challenge 2026 Semi-Finals: Scorchers, Sixers Win

Published on October 20, 2026

Summary Overview: Perth Scorchers beat unbeaten Adelaide Strikers by 5 wickets and Sydney Sixers edged Sydney Thunder by 4 wickets in the T20 Spring Challenge 2026 semi-finals. The Scorchers and Sixers meet in Wednesday's final in Sydney.

Who won the semi-finals? Perth Scorchers beat Adelaide Strikers by 5 wickets, and Sydney Sixers beat Sydney Thunder by 4 wickets.

Who were the stars? Scorchers captain Chloe Piparo and Sixers seamer Lauren Cheatle were named Players of the Match.

What's the big story? The top two teams are both out. The Strikers, who won all four league games, and the Thunder, who were also unbeaten and had the best net run rate, lost to the teams that finished 4th and 3rd.

When is the final? Today, Wednesday, October 21 at 2:00 PM local time (8:30 AM IST, 8:00 AM PKT) at Cricket Central, Sydney.

The Story: The Underdogs Strike Back

Both semi-finals were played at Cricket Central in Sydney on Tuesday, and both went against the form book.

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 wickets when it chases down the target with batters still to come.

The Scorchers and Sixers only scraped into the semi-finals, finishing level on 4 points with both Melbourne teams and going through on net run rate. A day later, they are the two teams left standing. Either way, the 2026 Spring Challenge will have a first-time champion.

Semi-Final 1: Scorchers Beat Strikers by 5 Wickets

The Strikers had won all four league games, including a six-wicket win over the Scorchers earlier in the tournament. This time, the Scorchers' bowlers held them to just 116 for 6 in their 20 overs.

Perth then chased it down calmly, reaching 118 for 5 in 18 overs with two overs to spare. Captain Chloe Piparo was named Player of the Match as the Scorchers got their revenge.

Semi-Final 2: Sixers Edge Thunder in the Sydney Derby

The second semi-final was much tighter. The Thunder, unbeaten in the league, made 152 for 9, but the Sixers kept taking wickets to stop them pulling away.

The Sixers' chase went down to the final over. They reached 153 for 6 with just three balls to spare to win by 4 wickets. Left-arm seamer Lauren Cheatle was Player of the Match.

Turning Point: The Strikers Held to 116

The Strikers' batting had been the story of the league stage, with scores of 183 against the Scorchers and 165 against the Hurricanes. In the semi-final, the Scorchers kept them to 116, well below those totals. That gave Perth a target they never looked like missing.

Stat Corner

Semi-Final Results

Match	Result	Player of the Match
Semi-Final 1	Perth Scorchers won by 5 wickets (ADS 116/6, PRS 118/5 in 18 overs)	Chloe Piparo
Semi-Final 2	Sydney Sixers won by 4 wickets (SYT 152/9, SYS 153/6 in 19.3 overs)	Lauren Cheatle

How They Got Here

Team	League finish	Record	Semi-final
Sydney Sixers	3rd	2-2	Beat Sydney Thunder (2nd)
Perth Scorchers	4th	2-2	Beat Adelaide Strikers (1st)

The Final: Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Sixers

Match	Date	Venue	Local (AEDT)	IST	Pakistan	ET
Final	Wed, Oct 21	Cricket Central, Sydney	2:00 PM	8:30 AM	8:00 AM	11:00 PM (Oct 20)

Local time is Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT, UTC+11). IST is India Standard Time (UTC+5:30). Pakistan is on PKT (UTC+5). ET is US Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4), so the final starts on Tuesday evening in the US. In Perth, the final starts at 11:00 AM (AWST), and in the UK at 4:00 AM (BST).

Players to watch in the final:

Scorchers: captain Chloe Piparo, fresh from her Player of the Match display; Mikayla Friday, who made 57 against the Strikers in the league; and Katie Mack, who scored 51 and 43 in the league.
Sixers: Lauren Cheatle, the semi-final star with the new ball; captain Erin Burns; and seam-bowling all-rounder Maitlan Brown.

Both teams are without their Australia stars, who are playing New Zealand in a T20I series at the same time: Beth Mooney and Alana King for the Scorchers, and Ashleigh Gardner and Ellyse Perry for the Sixers.

Players to Watch in the Final

Perth Scorchers

Chloe Piparo (c): The captain led from the front in the semi-final and was named Player of the Match as Perth knocked out the Strikers.

Mikayla Hinkley: Top-scored with 57 off 37 against the Strikers in the league stage and made 39 off 25 in the win over the Renegades.

Katie Mack: One of the Scorchers' most consistent batters, with 51 off 28 against the Strikers and 43 off 34 against the Renegades.

Ines McKeon: Hit 51 off 33 against the Strikers and adds power to the middle order.

Chloe Ainsworth: The Cricket Australia-contracted fast bowler who leads the Scorchers' attack.

Lilly Mills: A bowler who took 2 for 35 against the Strikers in the league.

Sydney Sixers

Lauren Cheatle: The semi-final Player of the Match. Her left-arm swing makes her a big threat early in an innings.

Erin Burns (c): The experienced captain and all-rounder who guided the Sixers into the final.

Maitlan Brown: A seam-bowling all-rounder who can also hit hard late in an innings.

Sarah Coyte: A veteran seamer with years of WBBL experience.

Courtney Sippel: A pace bowler who gives the Sixers another strong option with the new ball.

Hayley Zauch (wk): The Sixers' wicketkeeper, with a chance to make her mark on the big stage.

Final Squads

Team	Squad
Perth Scorchers	Chloe Piparo (c), Alyssa Dermody (wk), Katie Mack, Ines McKeon, Mikayla Hinkley, Chloe Ainsworth, Rebecca McGrath, Taneale Peschel, Lilly Mills, Amy Edgar, Shay Manolini, Ebony Hoskin, Ruby Strange
Sydney Sixers	Erin Burns (c), Hayley Zauch (wk), Lauren Kua, Elsa Hunter, Maitlan Brown, Lauren Cheatle, Caoimhe Bray, Courtney Sippel, Sarah Coyte, Frankie Nicklin, Juliette Morton, Claire Moore, Maddy Darke, Stella Campbell