Superb Scorchers fly into Big Final

Melbourne Stars' semi-final curse continues as Perth make it four-straight BBL final

 Hello and a warm welcome for the second semi-final between Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Stars. The hosts, Perth Scorchers have made it a habit of making it through to the Knock-out phase of the tournament. Despite missing some of their stars performers. On the other hand, the Stars have rebounded spectaculary after three successive defeat. They had won five on the bounce and will be confident of reaching their first ever Big Bash finals.

 The two teams met in their last league match with the Stars completing a stunning win, courtesy a superb century from young batsman, Peter Handscomb. Cameron White and his men will be boosted by that result, although past performances doesn't count for much during the semi-final stage of the tournament.
Perth Scorchers had won the toss and elected to bat first.

Teams

Perth Scorchers (playing XI): Shaun Marsh, Michael Klinger, Adam Voges (c), Michael Carberry, Sam Whiteman, Ashton Turner, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Yasir Arafat, Andrew Tye, Jason Behrendorff, Brad Hogg.
Melbourne Stars (playing XI): Cameron White (c), Rob Quieny, Kevin Pietersen, Luke Wright, Peter Handscomb, Triffitt, John Hastings, Clint Mckay, Scott Boland, Jackson Bird, Michael Beer.

 Melbourne Star's finals cruse has continued for a forth straight season in a low-scoring thriller against Perth Scorchers, who valiantly defended their total of 7-144 in front of a full house at The Furnace to book their annual spot in the Big Final with an 18-run victory.
 The Stars looked to be a cruising midway through their innings at 1-67 with English pair Luke Wright and Kevin Pietersen dictating terms, but for the third time in four seasons, they came unstruck in semi-final against the relentless Scorchers, spectacularly losing 9-59 to completely fall out of the contest.

 The Scorchers now face Sydney Sixers in Canberra on Wednesday evening, and will be looking to become the first BBL side to go back-to-back in the tournament's brief history.

 Andrew Tye continued his breakthrough Tournament , claiming 4-18 to make amends for earlier facing out a maiden over to complete Perth's innings in the most remarkable low-key fashion.

 But to single out Tye would be doing the rest of the Scorchers attack a disservice, as they again produced a superb all-round effort and continued their happy knack of expertly defending small total in BBL/04.

 Earlier, John Hastings (3-27) got the jump on Scorchers quick Jason Behrendroff as the tournament's leading wicket-taker during a high-class spell, renoving Klinger (5) and Adam Voges (3) in quick succesion well on top at 2-19.

 Klinger top-edged an attempted pull shot to Clint MckaY at fine leg, while Voges couldn't avoid a diving Cameron White at short cover as the pressure fell right back on Shaun Marsh and Michael Careberry.

 The pair put on 68 before Marsh, who never quite found his groove in making 35 (34) looked to up the tempo but succeeded only in picking out Jackson Bird at long off from the bowling of Michael Beer. 

 Ashton Turner (one) came and went, edging Boland through to Tom Triffit, and when Carberry fell soon after for a well made 50, the Scorchers had lost 3-12 and were in serious strife at 5-99.

 Sam Whiteman's 11-ball cameo of 14 kept the score ticking along but was all too brief, leaving the returning Nathan Coulter-Nile to do the bulk of the big hitting at the death. 

 Coulter-Nile managed what proved to be a crucial 22 from nine deliveries, before he too nicked behind as Hastings returned to collect another wicket. 

 Tye's failure to add a single run in the final over looked to be a costly finale to the innings for the home side, but the paceman's double breakthrough of Wright (31) and the Peter Handscomb (0) in the 11th over swung the contest.

 Coulter-Nile then followed suit in the 15th over, removing first Rob Quiney (7) and the danger man Pietersen (31) in the space of three balls to leave the Stars reeling at 5-88.

 It only got worse from there for the visitors, who succumbed to the suffocating attack of the Scorchers, just as the Sixers, Strikers and Hurricanes have done before them this season. Do join us for the big final between Perth Scorchers Vs Sydney Sixers at Manuka Oval, Canberra on Jan 28, 2015. Until then it's goodbye and take care !