PERTH _ Shaun Marsh made a shock return from injury to help power the Perth Scorchers to a 39-run victory over the Hobart Hurricanes in last night's Big Bash League final at the WACA Ground.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The result ended a 10-year title drought for West Australian cricket.
The last piece of silverware to arrive at the WACA was in 2003-04 when the Warriors won the one-day title.
Marsh was deemed too risky to take on the Test tour of South Africa after he injured his calf on January 26.
But the 30-year-old showed national selectors they probably should have stuck by him, with the left-hander cracking an unbeaten 63 off 43 balls in the Scorchers' formidable 4-191.
In reply, Hobart was restricted to 7-152 despite the best efforts of skipper George Bailey, who posted 58 off 32 balls.
Perth had lost the past two BBL finals at the WACA, but it was a case of third time lucky on the back of important knocks from Marsh, Craig Simmons (45 off 36 balls) and Mitch Marsh (37 off 12).
Evergreen spinner Brad Hogg (2-17 off four overs) then did the damage with the ball, ensuring the fanatical 20,783 crowd went home happy.
``It's a great win. We've had our ups and downs,'' Hogg said.
``We've been in it for three years. We didn't want to lose it for three years in a row.''
Hobart produced the shock of the tournament when it beat the Melbourne Stars in the semi-finals.
And it made a strong start to the final, restricting Perth to 1-15 after four overs.
But from there Hobart's bowlers copped a hammering, with Dimitri Mascarenhas (1-46), Doug Bollinger (0-38) and Cameron Boyce (0-39) all feeling the pain.
