“I think he just needs to trust himself. The runs will come,” Richardson said.
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“He’s too good not to get a couple of scores. He just needs to be confident and back himself.
“And I think Coops just needs to remember that he’s still influencing the game for us.
“I know he’s not getting the runs that he would like, but he’s still having a really big impact (with the ball).”
The Scorchers (7-3) still finished on top of the ladder despite Connolly’s batting struggles, with the likes of Finn Allen, Mitch Marsh, Aaron Hardie and Ashton Turner all playing match-winning knocks this season.
Josh Inglis and Laurie Evans are also part of what is arguably the strongest batting line-up of the league.
Connolly is confident the runs will soon flow for him.
“Three weeks ago I was hitting them nicely and I still feel like I’m hitting the ball nicely,” said Connolly, who was the joint BBL player-of-the-season last campaign alongside Glenn Maxwell.
“It’s just a game of T20 cricket – sometimes you get out and have a few low scores.
“I’m looking forward to Tuesday and hopefully putting on a show.”
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A top of 39 degrees is forecast for Perth, meaning stifling conditions will greet the players when the match begins at 4.30pm local time.
The Sixers would have missed the finals if they had lost to Brisbane at the Gabba, but their five-wicket win rocketed them to second spot.
Star Test duo Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc loom as keys to the Sixers’ title hopes.
Smith has cracked scores of 54, 100 and 19 not out since completing his Ashes duties, while Starc snared 4-35 against the Heat on Monday night.
The winner of the Scorchers-Sixers match will earn direct entry into Sunday’s grand final, with the loser to host a must-win ‘Challenger’ match on Friday against either Hobart or the Melbourne Stars.
The Hurricanes and Stars lock horns in a ‘Knockout’ encounter at Bellerive Oval on Wednesday night.
AAP
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