First it giveth, then it taketh away.

Sydney Sixers players went from feeling blessed by the rain to cursed in Wednesday night’s crushing semi-final loss to Perth at the SCG.

One moment the good fortune was flooding down from the heavens as Sydney looked to have been saved an epic run-chase and gifted an automatic passage to the Big Bash League final.

But just one minute before the match was due to be abandoned, the covers were off and the Sixers set a revised target of 54 off five overs.

There was still hope for the Sixers, but now a victory would have to be hard-earned.

Thirty one balls later and five runs short, Sydney’s glamour boys were left to contemplate yet another 12-month Champions League drought.

The Sixers weren’t hiding from the fact they would have been lucky to escape with victory, given the Scorchers had posted an imposing total of 5-193.

But that couldn’t change the cold hard facts that had the rain lasted just sixty more seconds, the Sixers would have been handed a ticket to the lucrative Champions League and the right to host Friday’s final against Hobart.

Perth captain Simon Katich and match-winner Craig Simmons freely admitted post-match that the Scorchers were resigned to thinking rain had ruined them.

“Most of the blokes thought it was game over,” said Simmons.

“Gutting,” was Katich’s prediction.

But at the same time Perth hearts were sinking, Sydney couldn’t have helped but think mother nature had done their job for them.

Sixers skipper Marcus North admitted finding themselves back in a dog fight after an hour spent counting the rain drops made for a seismic shift to their psyche.

“We didn’t expect it to get that close to being abandoned but credit to the guys we kept as focused as we could,” said North.

“There’s no doubt it’s tough when it’s raining and it’s a distraction. But in the end I thought we gave it a pretty good nudge to fall just five runs short.

“I think we were always prepared to come out and bat but obviously it would have been nice if had rained for another five more minutes.”

Sydney’s exit meant the competition’s two biggest heavyweights the Melbourne Stars and the Sixers have been bundled out despite finishing No.1 and 2 on the ladder.

North was part of the Perth side that qualified for the Champions League in 2012-13, and knows what a blow it’s to miss out on the financial windfall.

However, the skipper said his side would bounce back.

“It’s pretty sobering. We all know there’s so much to play for in the Champions League and to get so close is heartbreaking,” North said.