Ellyse Perry can cap a superlative summer and secure the Sydney Sixers a golden dynasty by achieving victory in the WBBL final against the Brisbane Heat at Drummoyne Oval on Australia Day.
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Perry was the hero as the two-time reigning champs advanced to their fourth straight decider with a pulsating, super-over semi-final win over the Melbourne Renegades.
The Sixers captain posted her eighth 50-plus score this season, took a wicket, ran out Renegades captain Amy Satterthwaite, pouched a running catch to dismiss Jess Duffin, bowled a cool 20th over to a rampant Sophie Molineux and launched a match-sealing super-over six.
"That (win) was a phenomenal team effort," said Perry who enters the final with an all-time WBBL single-season record 744 runs at a Bradmanesque average of 93.00.
"For four years we've been building up that kind of resilience. Our ability to step up when it counts is pretty amazing."
The Heats' progression to the their maiden WBBL final also came courtesy of a show-stopping, last-ball semi-final thriller.
Sammy-Jo Johnson's fine all-round double (33, 1-12) stamped her as one of the competition's great improvers and helped the Heat sneak past the Sydney Thunder by four runs.
With five required off the last ball, Nicola Carey's crisp slog sweep looked destined to sail for six, only to be snaffled smartly on the deep square boundary by Haidee Birkett.
"I thought that was six for sure ... but she just plucked it out of the air," Johnson said.
"I'm lost for words to be honest, cannot believe it. We always just talk about staying in the fight."
The Heat will need every ounce of that never-say-die fighting spirit if they are to upset the Sixers this Saturday.
They are more than capable, having shared a 1-1 split in head-to-heads this summer.
Perry smashed a career-best 103 not out to steer the Sixers to victory at the SCG last month before the Heat exacted brutal revenge the following day at Hurstville, storming home by 66 runs, Johnson smashing 51 and taking 3-23.
Fast-scoring Brisbane openers Beth Mooney (421 runs at 35.08) and Grace Harris (373 at 26.64) are capable of matching Sixers powerplay dynamos Alyssa Healy (427 at 32.84) and Ash Gardner (314 at 24.15) but the Heat's big strength lies in their attack.
As demonstrated against the Thunder's lauded batting line-up, Brisbane's bowlers can defend most totals or scythe through any top six.
Spin trio Jemma Barsby, Jess Jonassen and Grace Harris form with seamers Delissa Kimmince and Johnson a balanced attack which has masked some batting collapses.
Meanwhile the Sixers are blessed with as many as nine different bowling options.
South Africans Marizanne Kapp (19 wickets at 17.57) and Dane van Niekerk (17 at 20.35) are the lynchpins while the indomitable Perry will almost certainly again play another key role with the ball as the Sixers chase Twenty20 immortality.
Australian Associated Press