Big Bash League: Perth Scorchers stunned in final ball thriller by ...

Perth Scorchers have lost three of their final five games, handing their double chance to Sydney Sixers in a frantic finish to a season they once led.

An out-of-the-box 74 from 43 by recalled opener Daniel Hughes made a mighty dent in the Scorchers’ monster 4-197. Then Moises Henriques finished the chase on the final ball, despite losing four partners in just eight deliveries at the death.

A three-wicket Jason Behrendorff over booted wide open the door Hughes had slammed shut, only to have it swung back in their faces in a dramatic finish at Optus Stadium on Tuesday night.

A brainless third run had Hayden Kerr dismissed from the outfield and left hot-handed Moises Henriques stranded at the non-striker’s end for Aaron Hardie’s 20th over.

Then Ben Dwarshuis was also run-out and Henriques was left 11 to get off five balls. He heaved a massive six over mid-wicket, scampered home to tie the scores on the penultimate delivery and cut the winning runs away for four.

It means the Scorchers’ championship hopes will go on the line each time they play a final and their path to a three-peat will run through either Gold Coast or Sydney.

Import Laurie Evans left the club with one parting gift and walked off Optus Stadium on Tuesday night to a rousing standing ovation after his 72 off 34.

An uncharacteristically poor bowling performance, where Ashton Agar went at 11-an-over and Lance Morris 13 was the difference.

After winning the toss and batting, Sam Whiteman played a crisp square cut to start his scoring with a boundary and two other straight drives, appearing to have rediscovered his touch.

Sloppy Sydney fielding let them off the hook twice when Todd Murphy dropped a catch off Eskinazi and James Vince slipped hunting a Whiteman skied ball. But Eskinazi’s worst enemy was his own finger.

Camera IconLaurie Evans bats. Credit: James Worsfold/Getty Images

The import received treatment in the third over and retired hurt in the fourth. Then Whiteman feathered a ball down the leg-side the very next ball.

Josh Inglis and Hardie were tasked with another rebuild mission. The dynamic Inglis was sucked in by a vacant cover region and burnt a review after edging behind a Todd Murphy off-spinner.

Evans was the man they needed. In his final game for the season, the Englishman had Optus Stadium wrapped around his little finger. He was one off five balls and 18 off 13 when they took the power-surge.

In one brutal and magnificent over off Kerr, he took 28 runs — bringing up his 50 off just 22 balls.

Camera IconLaurie Evans of the Scorchers plays a late cut shot. Credit: James Worsfold/Getty Images

Four wide of mid-on. Six over mid-off. Ramped six sails over fine-leg. Pulled four behind square. Pulled four forward of square.

After the season’s biggest power-surge, Evans pushed on. At full extension Hardie drilled Jack Edwards over cover and Evans made the most of more poor fielding, rolling one through Ben Dwarshius’ open legs as the rangy seamer neared an unwanted half-century.

Hardie was convinced he didn’t hit the ball that had him caught behind — but had no say in the matter — before Cooper Connolly opened up for the first time this year.

Partnering the final stages of Evans’ remarkable knock, Connolly took Edwards and Dwarshius straight and pulled Abbott for a monstrous six.

Camera IconNick Hobson of the Scorchers and Cooper Connolly. Credit: James Worsfold/Getty Images

Nick Hobson finished by heaving Edward over cow corner and they took 131 off the back 10.

Andrew Tye dragged a ball over the rope in Behrendorff’s first over and Lance Morris was dragged all over the park in a risk-laden power-play over.

Daniel Hughes hit five boundaries from his first 10 balls, then James Vince parked Agar over cow. The pair were given too much width and the Scorchers’ attack — missing Jhye Richardson — were wayward with their lengths.

The recalled Hughes’ out-of-the-box blitz continued on after Hardie took the wicket of Vince. Josh Philippe took a heavy strike to the helmet but worked through it for a half-century stand with his rampaging teammate.

Camera IconDaniel Hughes of the Sixers plays a late cut shot. Credit: James Worsfold/Getty Images

The West Australian was caught in the deep by Agar and Hughes landed one more blow before finding the same fielder for 74 from 43.

A Henriques six added to Morris’ nightmare, which left him with 0-48 and the Sixers 40 to chase off the final four.

He struck another off Tye’s final over and even when Agar beat Jordan Silk, his quicker ball ran away for four byes.

Inglis charged outside the ring to catch a Silk top-edge that nudged the door ajar during Behrendorff’s penultimate over. It was game on when Edwards went the very next ball and Kerr in the same over.

Then cool captain Henriques oversaw 13 runs off the final over.