Perennial title contenders the Scorchers and Sixers have sealed their spot, but the race for the last three finals berths is going down to the wire
BBL finals race: The run home for each club
We're into the last week of the KFC BBL|12 regular season and just nine games remain with five teams battling it out for the remaining three finals spots.
Reigning champions the Scorchers and fierce rivals the Sixers have already locked away their playoff berths and only the Sydney club can unseat Perth from top spot and gain hosting rights of The Qualifier on Saturday week.
The Scorchers will be searching for an unprecedented fifth BBL title when the finals series gets underway on January 27, while the Sixers will be gunning for a record-equalling fourth Big Bash crown.
The addition of multiple Australian players has catapulted the Brisbane Heat back into contention, and they are one of five clubs in a mid-table logjam.
With just three points separating the Renegades, Thunder, Strikers, Hurricanes and Heat from third to seventh, there's all to play for in the final days of the home-and-away season.
Image Id: 258F5A143DFD469DA7C2B32C7DE186EB1st: Perth Scorchers (18 points)
Played: 12 | Won: 9 | Lost: 3 | NRR: 1.024
Run home
Jan 20 v Strikers (Adelaide Oval)
Jan 22 v Renegades (Perth Stadium)
It's same-old, same-old for the Scorchers who seem perennially glued to the top of the BBL standings and look destined for another podium finish in the 12th edition of the competition.
They've already locked away another top two finish this season with a comprehensive seven-wicket win over pre-tournament favourites the Hurricanes last night and will host The Qualifier with victory in their remaining two matches.
Sunday's final-over loss to the Sixers was a rare blemish and just their third of the season, with their local talent again holding them in good stead right throughout the tournament.
Faf du Plessis provided the fireworks in the first half of the season, but it has been Josh Inglis and newly promoted No.3 Aaron Hardie who have put the onus on themselves to deliver with the bat, given Mitch Marsh's absence for the entirety of the season.
The ever-reliable Andrew Tye sits atop of the wicket-taker's list with 22, while Jason Behrendorff (17) and the injured Jhye Richardson (15) round out a formidable first-choice pace attack.
Richardson is expected to return for their finals campaign as he battles a hamstring injury, however Englishman David Payne and Aussie Test squad member Lance Morris have provided ample cover throughout his recovery.
Games against two teams vying to secure their spot in the finals to close the season won't be easy, but the Scorchers are well poised as they search for a fifth title.
2nd: Sydney Sixers (17 points)
Played: 12 | Won: 8 | Lost: 3 | No result: 1 | NRR: 0.297
Run home
Jan 21 v Thunder (SCG)
Jan 23 v Hurricanes (Blundstone Arena)
A stunning Steve Smith century – the first male player to reach the milestone in club history – secured the Sydney Sixers a fifth straight finals appearance with victory over the Strikers in Coffs Harbour on Tuesday night.
And they're the only team that can knock the Scorchers from top spot, provided they win their remaining two games, and the Scorchers drop at least one.
With two games to close out the season against teams below them on the ladder, they will be confident in giving themselves every chance to add a fourth title to their cabinet.
It has been a collective effort from the experienced Sixers, with only Sean Abbott's 19 wickets standing out among some of the other top performers so far in the competition.
Four of their eight wins have come by less than seven runs or in the last over when chasing, with veterans Jordan Silk, Dan Christian and Moises Henriques all stepping up in crucial moments.
3rd: Melbourne Renegades (12 points)
Played: 12 | Won: 6 | Lost: 6 | NRR: -0.047
Run home
Jan 22 v Scorchers (Perth Stadium)
Jan 24 v Strikers (Marvel Stadium)
It has been a welcome return to form for the Renegades after three seasons entrenched at the foot of the table, however they must still win at least one game if they are to return to the finals for the first time since their championship season of BBL|08.
Defeat to the Thunder on Thursday night saw them miss a golden opportunity to all but seal a finals berth, however Aaron Finch's men remain in third spot despite the defeat.
They next face the Scorchers in Perth this weekend, before returning to Marvel Stadium for their final game against the Strikers, where they have lost only once this season.
The Renegades' campaign started with three consecutive wins, and while they have been beaten convincingly by table-toppers the Scorchers and Sixers (twice), a pair of Melbourne derby victories has kept them in the top five right throughout BBL|12.
A trio of half centuries from wicketkeeper Sam Harper in his three knocks prior to the Thunder loss has stabilised the 'Gades batting line up, while the all-round emergence of Will Sutherland has been pivotal in their rise up the ladder as they hold the weight of Melbourne's title hopes on their shoulders.
4th: Sydney Thunder (12 points)
Played: 12 | Won: 6 | Lost: 6 | NRR: -0.328
Run home
Jan 21 v Sixers (SCG)
Jan 25 v Stars (MCG)
A commanding win over the Renegades on Thursday night has seen the Thunder leapfrog the Strikers and Hurricanes into fourth, in what was a crucial victory that snapped a three-game losing streak.
However the Thunder's poor NRR leaves them needing victory in at least one, and possibly two (depending on other results) of their final two matches of the BBL|12 regular season to make a fourth-consecutive finals series.
Saturday's Sydney Smash, which pits Steve Smith against David Warner for the first time on Australian soil since a famous day at Coogee Oval back in 2018, is crucial for Chris Green's side.
Whatever the result in that highly anticipated clash, their final match of the season against the bottom-placed Stars will be a live one, with the possibility that the Thunder require a big win to boost their NRR and sneak into the finals.
5th: Adelaide Strikers (10 points)
Played: 12 | Won: 5 | Lost: 7 | NRR: 0.188
Run home
Jan 20 v Scorchers (Adelaide Oval)
Jan 24 v Renegades (Marvel Stadium)
It doesn't get any easier for the Strikers following their loss to the Sixers on Tuesday night with a home clash against the top of the table Scorchers on Friday afternoon.
Win that and their finals destiny is well and truly in their hands, while a fourth consecutive loss will leave them nervously sweating on other results to fall in their favour.
After initially appearing to be the team to beat in BBL|12 with three convincing wins to open the season, the Strikers suffered a mid-season slump and are among a pack of teams contending for seemingly the final three spots in the top five.
Matt Short (458) and Chris Lynn (416) are the leading run-scorers in the competition, however the latter's departure for the UAE's International League T20 tournament leaves them with a gaping hole in their batting line up should they secure a finals spot.
Strikers' stalwarts and Test players Travis Head and Alex Carey will fill that void in the meantime; however, they will be unavailable should they go deep into the finals when they depart for Australia's Qantas Tour of India.
Henry Thornton and Wes Agar have been bright sparks with the ball and were at the centre of the Strikers' rout of the Thunder for just 15 earlier in the season, but have fallen away since, resulting in their side winning just two of their last nine and their season looks set to come down to their final game against the Renegades in Melbourne next Tuesday.
6th: Hobart Hurricanes (10 points)
Played: 11 | Won: 5 | Lost: 6 | NRR: -0.27
Run home
Jan 20 v Heat (Gabba)
Jan 23 v Sixers (Blundstone Arena)
Jan 25 v Heat (UTAS Stadium)
Their NRR took a hit last night as they were soundly beaten by a rampant Scorchers side by seven wickets but with games to come against fellow contenders their finals fate is still theirs to determine.
Widely tipped before the season as one of the teams to beat in BBL|12, an inconsistent Hurricanes outfit haven't been able to find a consistent formula so far this campaign.
The emergence of Paddy Dooley with the ball has been the story of the 'Canes season, although he limped off with a groin injury in last night's defeat that would be a major blow for their finals hopes if he was to spend a period on the sidelines.
Sunday's win over the Thunder seemed to put the Cane train back on track, with a Nathan Ellis hat-trick and a brutal half century from Tim David helping them leap into the top five and set up their surge for finals.
They remain in fifth despite last night's loss and will be looking to contributions from senior players in Matthew Wade, David, Ben McDermott and Ellis to help secure finals qualification.
Home and away fixtures against fellow finals hopefuls Brisbane will be pivotal to the make-up of the top five, and they will be looking to bank both of those wins, with a clash with the Sixers splitting those two matchups.
7th: Brisbane Heat (9 points)
Played: 11 | Won: 4 | Lost: 6 | No result: 1 | NRR: -0.721
Run home
Jan 20 v Hurricanes (Gabba)
Jan 22 v Stars (Gabba)
Jan 25 v Hurricanes (UTAS Stadium)
After back-to-back wins the Heat remain in the finals hunt and with two games against the Hurricanes, who they are just one point in arrears to, their fate is largely in their hands.
The recent additions of Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Matthew Renshaw – who was the hero against the Stars on Monday – has no doubt provided some class and stability to their line up, while Michael Neser's strong form with the ball has been a constant all season.
The X-factor of Josh Brown has been a highlight, with the powerful opener lighting up the Gabba at times, however the Heat have struggled to consistently post winning totals.
Beating the Stars last night was a good first step, and their return fixture against them this coming Sunday will also be crucial, but it is their two clashes with the Hurricanes that will ultimately determine their fate.
8th: Melbourne Stars (6 points)
Played: 12 | Won: 3 | Lost: 9 | NRR: -0.276
Run home
Jan 22 v Heat (Gabba)
Jan 25 v Thunder (MCG)
While there still would have been a lot of work to do, the Stars decision to rest Nathan Coulter-Nile in their last-over loss to the Renegades last Saturday may just have proven costly in keeping their finals hopes alive.
With only two games remaining and the Stars sitting four points out of the top five, their chances of returning to the finals are all but over after a tough season without skipper Glenn Maxwell, as well as Marcus Stoinis for a large chunk.
The absence of the star pair left their batting line up with too much to make up for, with only English recruit Joe Clarke among the competition's top run-scorers.
Fellow Englishman Luke Wood has been impressive with the ball, snaring 17 wickets, but again, not enough of his teammates have been able to significantly contribute to aid their push for a finals berth.
This Sunday's return clash with the Heat offers them a chance for redemption, while they take on the Thunder in their final match next Wednesday in a game that mirrors the thrilling contest that opened BBL|12.