Sixers storm into WBBL final

Rain, storms and the Hobart Hurricanes were not enough to stop the Sydney Sixers juggernaut from blasting their way into the Rebel Women's Big Bash League final on Friday, as they completed an emphatic 10-wicket semi-final win at the MCG.

When the Sixers sat on the bottom of the ladder mid-way through the season without a win to their name, few would have predicted that a little over a month later they'd have booked a place in the final.

After nine straight wins, the Sixers have a date with cross-town rivals Sydney Thunder in the big dance, the latest step in a resurgence that's been nothing short of remarkable.

Initially set 87 runs to win from 14 overs by the Hurricanes, heavy rainfall during the innings break made the equation 55 from eight overs for the Sixers.

The Hurricanes had made economic bowling and pressure in the field their specialty this season but the total was always going to be difficult to defend against a Sixers' batting line-up boasting Southern Stars Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy at the top of the order.

The pair made short work of the runs required, with Healy offering just one chance – that was dropped at square leg – as they peeled off the required runs with 10 balls to spare.

In true Melbourne fashion, the sun was even shining by the time Perry scored the winning run.

"We had a good idea of what we needed to do which is the advantage of batting second in these conditions," Perry said after the match.

"It was only a run a ball plus one or two reasonably big overs and I thought Alyssa batted incredibly well, especially in that second over with 12 runs, that took the pressure off the run rate and it was just a matter of finding gaps for the rest of it."

The constant rain that tumbled in Melbourne on Friday morning delayed the start and forced the match to be shorted to 14 overs apiece, with Hobart skipper Heather Knight opting to set the Sixers a target.

However, it was the Sixers who drew first blood courtesy of some brilliance behind the stumps from Alyssa Healy, who took a blinder to remove Veronica Pyke off the second ball of the match. 

WATCH: Healy blinder sends Pyke packing

Knowing they had limited overs to play with, Knight and Erin Burns were not prepared to hang around and combined in a rapid 29-run stand, taking 15 from one Kapp over.

When Lisa Sthalekar collected the big scalp of Knight for 16 with another excellent piece of fielding, New Zealand import Amy Satterthwaite continued the attack, striking three boundaries to take the Hurricanes to 2-65 after 10 overs.

A total above 100 beckoned, before a costly collapse that saw the Hurricanes lose 4-9, with Sthalekar, Kapp and Sarah Aley all making crucial strikes.

While Satterthwaite (24) and Burns (26) had laid a solid foundation, the lower-order runs the Hurricanes would have hoped to see from the bats of big-hitting West Indian Hayley Matthews (5) and Corinne Hall (2) failed to eventuate, leaving them scrambling for late runs before finishing 8-86.

Sthalekar's 3-9 and two catches were backed up by a strong bowling performance as Kapp, with the exception of one costly over, continued her good form with 2-21 from three overs.

Sthalekar said the Sixers' ability to switch on immediately had been crucial.

"In a short match you don't have one or two balls to get going. You have to be switched on straight away and that’s what we did today," she said. 

WATCH: Sthalekar takes three crucial wickets

Rain changed the equation, while the successful chase from Perry and Healy continued what has been an astonishing turnaround from the Sixers, who have stormed from the bottom of the ladder into the WBBL final in the space of nine matches.

It was the Perth Scorchers, Adelaide Strikers and Brisbane Heat tipped to be favourites before the season started, thanks to their strong international line-ups.

The Sydney and Melbourne teams – traditionally strong in state cricket but forced to split their talent between two teams – were less favoured.

However it will be the New South Wales show again on Sunday, as the Sixers and Thunder to battle for the inaugural WBBL title at either the MCG or the WACA Ground.

"It's really nice for Cricket New South Wales and it displays how much depth there is in the state and the emphasis they put on the women's program," Perry said.

"We know each other really well and there are a lot of good crickets out there so it'll be super competitive."

The Thunder won the first Sydney Smith in December, but the Sixers bounced back last weekend.

Sthalekar said she expected a fierce contest.

"It's finals time so it doesn't matter what happened in the past. The teams know a lot about each other and as soon as they they cross the line all friendships will be left on the other side of the rope. We'll play in the right spirit but we'll play hard."