Connolly stars, Babar Azam falters as Scorchers win BBL opener.

• Perth Scorchers secured a five-wicket win against Sydney Sixers in the opening fixture of the BBL 2025-26 season.
• Cooper Connolly was named Player of the Match for his match-winning half-century (59 runs off 31 balls).
• Pakistan's Babar Azam, making his BBL debut for Sydney Sixers, scored only two runs.
• The match was shortened to 11 overs per side due to rain, with Scorchers successfully chasing 114 runs.

Why It Matters: This marks the BBL season's start, highlighting a new player's impact and a star's debut.