Scorchers lock up top spot as Stars stumble

The Perth Scorchers have locked in top spot and a guaranteed two home finals after overcoming a Haris Rauf onslaught in a six-wicket win over the Melbourne Stars.

Cooper Connolly celebrates taking a wicket in the Scorchers win in Perth.Credit: Getty Images

The stakes couldn’t have been higher for Saturday night’s match in front of 48,608 fans at Optus Stadium, with the winners to secure the minor premiership and the losers to finish third or fourth.

Scorchers paceman Jhye Richardson snared 4-16 from 3.2 overs to skittle the Stars for 130 in 18.2 overs.

In reply, the Scorchers were reeling at 3-26 in the fifth over after Rauf (3-23) sent Mitch Marsh, Cooper Connolly and Josh Inglis packing during an inspired spell of 3-2.

But Finn Allen, fresh off his century against the Melbourne Renegades last game, plundered 69 off 39 balls - including seven sixes - to get the Scorchers over the line with 19 balls to spare.

Allen was dropped on 23 when sub fielder Blake Macdonald grassed a tough diving chance at cover.

Aaron Hardie (41no off 37 balls) was on eight when he whacked a shot to cover and Marcus Stoinis dropped a difficult chance low to the ground.

Those two missed opportunities spelled the end of Melbourne’s hopes of defending their small total.

Hardie was also dropped on 28 late in the innings - denying Rauf a deserved fourth wicket.

The result means Perth (7-3) finish on top of the ladder and will host either Hobart or the Sydney Sixers on Tuesday in first-versus-second ‘Qualifier’ battle.

If Perth win that, they will host the grand final.

The Stars (6-4) will now have to do it the hard way from either third or fourth, with their final placing depending on Sunday’s clash between the fourth-placed Sixers (5-3, one washout) and fifth-placed Brisbane Heat (5-4) at the Gabba.

The writing was on the wall for the Stars early on after Cooper Connolly (2-18 off three overs) continued his knack of striking in the first over - this time making it a double delight.

Connolly’s first two deliveries went for four, but he had Tom Rogers caught and then he clean bowled Joe Clarke next ball as the Stars finished the first over at 2-9.

Sam Harper became Richardson’s first victim of the night when he skyed an easy catch to Luke Holt, leaving the Stars reeling at 3-15.

Stoinis (55 off 39 balls) and Campbell Kellaway (19 off 20 balls) steadied the ship with a 52-run stand.

But when Kellaway charged down the pitch and was caught behind and then Stoinis fell at the hands of Richardson, the Stars were back in trouble at 5-100.

The biggest destruction came during the Power Surge in the 16th and 17th overs when the Stars lost 3-8.

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