BBL 5 Match 31 Review: Star secure a home semi-final with a brilliant win

Melbourne Stars recovered from a shocking start to post 9-146 in a crunch clash against defending champions Perth Scorchers at The Furnace. After Scorchers captain Adam Voges won the toss and elected to bowl first, the Stars lost three key wickets inside the power play to hand the home side the perfect start.

Luke Wright (14) was first to go, miscuing a pull shot to give Matt Dixon his first wicket of BBL|05, and he had a second soon after with the scalp of English superstar Kevin Pietersen (8), caught behind by Cameron Bancroft. In between, Ashton Turner took the wicket of Marcus Stoinis (5) who found the safe hands of Ashton Agar at long-on. The horrible start continued for the Stars in the eight over, Dixon grabbing his third wicket as Peter Handscomb (9) found debutant Jhye Richardson running in from backward square leg.

Veteran pair David Hussey and Rob Quiney (21) looked to resurrect the innings and produced a 40-run stand from 29 balls before the latter picked out Turner at point to give David Willey his first wicket. Brad Hogg’s arrival to the middle was greeted with the usual hearty applause from a sell-out crowd at the Furnace, and the crafty veteran was soon in business, removing Hussey (36) with a wrong’un that was sent to Agar at long off, who held another good catch. The collapse continued courtesy of Andrew Tye, who removed Adam Zampa and Ben Hilfenhaus for a single each to go fourth on the BBL5 wicket-takers tally with 13.

Fresh from a half-century in his last start, Evan Gulbis (25* off 21) helped boost the total to a defendable one in conjunction with Dan Worrall (16 off 14), but the Scorchers will be confident they can secure a home final by chasing the 147 required.

An utterly dominant bowling display by the Stars was the highlight of the second half of the match. They bowled Scorchers out for 94, and won the game by 52 runs. Scorchers huffed and puffed after losing many early wickets, and never looked in the hunt for the target.

Adam Voges (46* off 51) then set his sights on 109 (needed by Scorchers to remain above the Stars on net run-rate) for the home semi but ran out of partners in his objective. It was the opening bowlers – Dan Worrall and Ben Hilfenhaus who set the tone early, with exceptional displays, swinging the ball both ways.

Worrall took the wickets of Michael Klinger and David Willey while Hilfenhaus accounted for Michael Carberry and Ashton Agar to reduce the home team to 26/4. From this moment onwards the chances of a recovery were mighty difficult against a disciplined bowling attack. Both the opening bowlers finished with 3 wickets each and bowled their team to a much-needed win.

Scorchers will again face the Stars in the semi final. It will be the fourth time these two teams will face off for a place in the final. The Stars have now beaten Perth in their past four regular-season fixtures however they have played them three times in semi-finals for three defeats.

Brief Scores:

Melbourne Stars: 146/9 in 20 overs (D Hussey 36; M Dixon 3/32)

Perth Scorchers: 94 in 19 overs (A Voges 46*; D Worrall 3/15, B Hilfenhaus 3/17)

Man of the match: Ben Hilfenhaus (Melbourne Stars)