A sublime all-round performance from Ellyse Perry has propelled the Sydney Sixers to an epic super over WBBL semi-final victory over the Melbourne Renegades.
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In front of 3500 fans at Sydney's Drummoyne Oval, Perry crunched Molly Strano for a six with two balls remaining in the super over to steer the two-time reigning champions into their fourth consecutive grand final after scores were tied at the end of 40 overs.
The Renegades had only managed 1-4 in their six-ball slog.
In regulation, the Renegades needed three from the last ball to overhaul the Sixers 4-131 to win off the last ball - bowled by Perry - which Sophie Molineux (55) sliced crisply to what appeared a certain boundary, only to be cut off by a diving Erin Burns.
Sarah Aley then relayed the ball into 'keeper Alyssa Healy whose direct hit at the non-striker's end beat the sprawling Molineux as she desperately attempting to complete the winning run.
The Renegades looked in big trouble early in the chase when they slumped to 3-19 inside the powerplay.
Perry (1-20) was terrific with the new ball, conceding two runs from her first two overs and castling Emma Inglis for a duck.
The Sixers skipper also ran out Renegades captain Amy Satterthwaite (2) with a bullet throw and took a fine running catch to get rid of the dangerous Jess Duffin (41) who had bravely resurrected the Renegades' innings before Molineux almost completed a last-ditch miracle.
Earlier, Perry stood firm with the bat while the rest of the Sixers top order crumbled.
They were in strife at 3-19 after Healy holed out for one, Ash Gardner edged Leah Tahuhu to Satterthwaite at slip for four and Burns was run out for a duck following a mix-up with Perry.
That soon became 5-33 in the ninth before Perry - with an unbeaten 54 from 59 balls - and Dane van Nierkerk (51 not out off 36) dug the Sixers out of a massive hole.
The pair's 98-run unbroken stand for the fifth wicket spared the home side complete humiliation.
The Sixers skipper paid tribute to South African international van Niekerk.
"Dane with the bat today was phenomenal. She got us back in the game."
The Sixers now play the Brisbane Heat, who beat the Sydney Thunder by four runs.
Australian Associated Press
