Perth Scorchers delivered a composed all-round performance to secure a crucial win, guiding themselves past a modest target of 131 with calm authority inside the 17th over. The victory kept their finals hopes firmly alive and underlined their growing confidence as the Big Bash League group stage nears its conclusion.
The chase did not begin smoothly for the Scorchers. Melbourne Stars fast bowler Haris Rauf set the tone early, striking twice in quick succession to remove Mitchell Marsh for 12 and Cooper Connolly for just two. When Josh Inglis fell cheaply for one soon after, the Scorchers found themselves wobbling at 26 for three, giving the Stars early momentum.
However, Aaron Hardie and Finn Allen steadied the innings with a measured partnership. Rather than chasing the runs recklessly, the pair focused on rotating strike and punishing loose deliveries. Allen looked set for a decisive role before Peter Siddle dismissed him late in the innings, but the damage had already been done. Hardie remained composed and sealed the win with a boundary in the following over, ensuring the Scorchers crossed the line with plenty of deliveries to spare.
Earlier in the match, the Melbourne Stars struggled to build a competitive total after being sent in to bat. Their innings got off to a disastrous start as they slumped to 15 for three by the end of the second over. The top order failed to cope with disciplined bowling, putting immediate pressure on the middle order to recover the innings.
Marcus Stoinis provided the backbone of the Starsβ resistance, scoring a fighting 55 runs. He received brief support from Campbell Kellaway, who made 19, and Hilton Cartwright, who added 13. Together, they helped stabilise the innings and gave the Stars hope of posting a defendable score.
That resistance faded quickly once Stoinis fell to David Payne. From that point, the Stars collapsed dramatically, losing their final six wickets for just 30 runs. The innings ended with 10 balls unused, a reflection of their inability to maintain momentum through the middle and death overs.
With this result, both teams must now wait for the outcome of Sundayβs final group match between Brisbane Heat and Sydney Sixers to learn their midweek qualifier opponents. If the Sixers win, they will face the Scorchers, while a Heat victory could set up a knockout clash against the Stars. The uncertainty adds another layer of intrigue to an already tight finals race.
In an earlier match, Adelaide Strikers closed their season on a positive note with an emphatic eight-wicket win over Melbourne Renegades. Chasing a modest target of 100, the Strikers showed intent from the outset and wrapped up the chase inside 12 overs.
The Renegades endured a torrid start with the bat. Spinner Jerrssis Wadia struck with the first two balls of the innings, dismissing Tim Seifert and Jake Fraser-McGurk to leave the side reeling. South African spinner Tabraiz Shamsi then tightened the screws, claiming four wickets for just 15 runs and bowling the Renegades out by the 17th over. Will Sutherland was the lone bright spot, scoring 38 in an otherwise disappointing batting display.
In response, the Strikersβ batters made light work of the target. Alex Carey and Matthew Short provided a brisk start before Chris Lynn and Liam Scott ensured there were no late surprises. The comfortable win allowed Adelaide to finish sixth on the table, a clear improvement on last season, while the Renegades ended seventh, marking their sixth bottom-three finish in the past seven campaigns.
