Perth Scorchers demolish Shaheen Afridi-starred Brisbane Heat to record second-highest total in BBL history
The Perth Scorchers turned the Gabba into a nightmare for the Brisbane Heat by delivering one of the most brutal batting displays ever seen in the history of the Big Bash League (BBL) on December 19.
Perth Scorchers have accumulated a massive 257/6 as they completely dismantled a Shaheen Afridi-led Brisbane Heat team in the 6th match of the ongoing BBL 2025-26 at the Gabba in Brisbane.
Perth Scorchers’ batting blitz at Gabba sets Big Bash League record
The Scorchers not only put up a batting show that will be remembered for years to come but also wrote history in the Big Bash League.
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This huge 257/6 now stands as the second highest team total in BBL history. However, the honor of scoring the highest ever total goes to the Melbourne Stars.
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Melbourne Stars’ total of 273 against the Hobart Hurricanes in January 2022 remains the highest total the Big Bash League has ever seen.
Adelaide Strikers’ 251/5 against the Brisbane Heat in January 2025 in Adelaide ranked third in this list, followed by Sydney Thunder’s 232/5 against the Sydney Sixers in 2021.
Perth Scorchers break record six hits in BBL history
The ongoing clash between the Scorchers and Heat also saw the creation of a new BBL record. In fact, the Perth Scorchers smashed 18 sixes at the Gabba, which is the most ever in a single innings in BBL history.
The previous best was 17 sixes, and this was also set by the Scorchers against the Melbourne Stars in the 2022-23 season.
That’s a lot of six… #BBL15 pIc.twItter.com/Q297GgXUpm
– KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 19, 2025
Finn Allen and Cooper Connolly lead the run-fest at the Gabba
Meanwhile, the Brisbane Heat got an early breakthrough when Xavier Bartlett dismissed Mitchell Marsh at second for just three runs off 9 balls. After Marsh’s wicket, Finn Allen and Cooper Connolly went after Bartlett in the fourth over, hitting two sixes and making the score 40/1.
Allen then went even stronger in the seventh over, smashing Matthew Kuhnemann for three towering sixes. The turning point of the innings came in the ninth over when Colin Munro dropped Allen on 45. This error completely changed the game at the Gabba.
Allen and Connolly made Brisbane Heat pay by creating a 100-run partnership in just 50 balls. Connolly played a superb knock of 77 off 37 balls peppered with six boundaries and sixes, attacking fearlessly before finally being dismissed after missing over-long work.
On the other hand, Allen’s blistering knock ended in the 15th over when he mistimed a length delivery to Shaheen Afridi to cover, as he returned after a brilliant 79 off just 38 balls. He also entertained the Gabba crowd with three boundaries and eight sixes.
Following their dismissals, Nick Hobson (26) and Laurie Evans (16*) then added quick runs at the end to help the Scorchers post a massive 257/6 on the board in their 20 overs against the Heat. For the hosts, Xavier Bartlett was the standout bowler with 2/44 in four overs.
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Finn Allen opens up on destroying Brisbane Heat attack in 2025-26 BBL clash
During the innings break, Finn Allen said: “It felt good. It was tough at the top, I think, but the way Cooper came out really changed the momentum for us, and we just had to keep that momentum going. I think by batting first, we wanted to put a competitive total on the board.
I think they probably got the better of us in the first two overs. But Cooper has been hitting the ball really well lately; he just went out and did what Cooper does. I thought he was going to continue to build on that.
