Bunbury’s Whiteman blasts the Scorchers to BBL title

Bunbury-raised wicketkeeper played a pivotal role in the Perth Scorchers winning a third Big Bash League championship on Saturday night, when they defeated the Sydney Sixers by nine wickets.

Whiteman opened the batting alongside Michael Klinger and began making light work of the Sixers’ modest total of 141, scoring 41 runs from just 21 deliveries, including three sixes and five boundaries at the WACA.

The pair put on 75 runs for the first wicket, before Whiteman was stumped by Brad Haddin of the bowling of Australian Test off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

The highlight of Whiteman’s innings came in just the second over, when he took Test swing bowler Jackson Bird for 18 runs, including a big six over mid-wicket, followed by three consecutive fours, one over mid-off, one over mid-wicket and a lovely cover drive.

Earlier in the night Whiteman put on a solid performance with the gloves, cleanly taking an errant throw from Jyhe Richardson to run out Sixers’ batsman Nic Maddinson, before taking the catch to dismiss Michael Lumb off the bowling of Mitchell Johnson.

Bunbury was also represented in the Women’s Big Bash League final, with batswoman Chloe Piparo scoring seven runs in the thrilling seven-run loss.