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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Jonathan Howcroft

Big Bash League semi-final: Melbourne Stars v Perth Scorchers – as it happened

Kevin Pietersen thrashes another boundary during his innings of 62 for Melbourne Stars.
Kevin Pietersen thrashes another boundary during his innings of 62 for Melbourne Stars. Photograph: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

A comprehensive all round performance then from Melbourne Stars who have finally overcome their semi-final hoodoo. It was unheralded bowlers Daniel Worrall and Adam Zampa who did the business with the ball, but when the pressure was on with the bat it was the big cojones of Kevin Pietersen that settled the nerves.

The Scorchers will be disappointed with their total batting first. Both Klinger and Voges got in without delivering a punishing score. Around them nobody chipped in with the kind of cameo required to challenge a side with as much depth as the Stars.

The Stars will now host the BBL grand final on Sunday at the MCG where they will take on Sydney Thunder. Sub-plots abound from this match-up, not least the battle of the captain Husseys with the final likely to be Mike’s final competitive appearance on Australian soil.

Stars win by seven wickets

Peter Handscomb nudges the winning single with 11 balls to spare.

Updated

18th over: Stars 139-3 (Handscomb 14, Hussey 7) Target: 140

The Stars seem happy to see this off in singles, especially facing the unpickable Tye. Or maybe not, spoke too soon and Handscomb goes aerial with Agar grassing a difficult chance running in from long-off.

Scores tied, two overs remaining.

17th over: Stars 130-3 (Handscomb 10, Hussey 2) Target: 140

Ten required from three overs. Even the Stars can’t contrive to throw a semi-final away from here.

WICKET! Pietersen b Paris 62 (Stars 128-3)

17th over: Stars 128-3 (Handscomb 10) Target: 140

‘Just’ 30,174 in the MCG to watch a KP masterclass. A square drive for four is bettered by a 94m six over midwicket. The game at his mercy he then walks across his stumps and misses a switch hit, lighting up the zing bails. Good comeback from Joel Paris but that’s surely a match-winning innings from the Englishman.

16th over: Stars 116-2 (Pietersen 50, Handscomb 10) Target: 140

Final roll of the dice you fancy for the Scorchers, Hogg coming on for his final over. Handscomb looks in decent nick though and KP’s in finisher mode. No chances for the veteran leggie who finishes with 1/20.

15th over: Stars 110-2 (Pietersen 48, Handscomb 6) Target: 140

Willey is a beauty. Screaming for an LBW that pitched about a foot outside leg stump and would have cleared the stumps by a yard. He had a few words with KP earlier too.

Ouch! looks like Pietersen remembers, stepping to off and flicking a lofted wristy glance over fine leg for four. Pure filth. Followed up by a clean straight drive for the first six of the innings.

14th over: Stars 97-2 (Pietersen 36, Handscomb 6) Target: 140

Damien Fleming describes Andrew Tye as “right-arm smorgasbord,” and he is incredibly difficult to line up. He bowls an array of different deliveries, all ostensibly right-arm over, that the Stars pair struggle to connect with. No wicket though, and until there’s another breakthrough or two you’d still fancy the Stars to win comfortably.

13th over: Stars 92-2 (Pietersen 33, Handscomb 4) Target: 140

Voges trying to seize the moment, bringing back Behrendorff for his final over. KP responds in kind, flicking a length delivery behind square on the leg-side for a welcome boundary.

12th over: Stars 85-2 (Pietersen 28, Handscomb 2) Target: 140

Hogg has prised open the door a fraction for the Scorchers but there’s plenty of batting still to come for the Stars. Responsibility now on KP to see this through.

WICKET! Stoinis LBW Hogg 44 (Stars 82-2)

12th over: Stars 82-2 (Pietersen 27) Target: 140

Hogg into his third over and his pressure finally tells! Brilliant from the old fella, deceiving Stoinis, setting him up for a wrongun and then tossing up a perfectly flighted leggie that traps the right-hander plumb in front. Big breakthrough for the Scorchers.

11th over: Stars 79-1 (Stoinis 42, Pietersen 26) Target: 140

KP trying to get after Agar but he can’t reach the rope. The Stars still in control but there’s not been a boundary since the sixth over.

10th over: Stars 72-1 (Stoinis 41, Pietersen 20) Target: 140

Hogg putting the clamps on with a tight over. The Stars are still ahead of the game but a lot is now invested in this partnership.

9th over: Stars 70-1 (Stoinis 41, Pietersen 19) Target: 140

Joel Paris the third left-arm paceman to try his luck for the Scorchers but he’s coming up against a good partnership. Bad balls are being punished, ones are being turned into twos and there are precious few dots.

This match is only heading in One Direction. Boom boom! Try the chicken. Tip the waitress.

8th over: Stars 61-1 (Stoinis 34, Pietersen 18) Target: 140

Big moment in the game as Brad Hogg comes on. The run rate has dipped below seven rpo meaning the Stars need not take any risks against the wily veteran. They try a couple of reverse sweeps anyway, working a few creative singles.

7th over: Stars 54-1 (Stoinis 29, Pietersen 17) Target: 140

Ashton Agar’s arrival brings back memories of Australia’s desperation to pick any left-arm spinner with a pulse to bowl to Kevin Pietersen. Stoinis is taking most of the strike at the moment though and leading the Stars nicely through this chase.

6th over: Stars 46-1 (Stoinis 23, Pietersen 15) Target: 140

Andrew Tye into the attack and his over’s punctuated by gulls flying across the pitch, forcing the lumbersexual paceman to reload twice. Stoinis takes full advantage, smashing a hat-trick of onside boundaries. Stars on the move now.

5th over: Stars 31-1 (Stoinis 10, Pietersen 13) Target: 140

Behrendorff backed to take more early wickets but Stoinis shows he’s up to the task, smashing a rising delivery through extra cover like Viv Richards. Pietersen also finds a similar few inches of the rope but with oodles more style, working his hands quickly through a fizzing cover drive. A KP leg glance finds the boundary later in the over and Voges may regret giving his strike weapon that extended spell.

WICKET! Wright c Voges b Willey 7 (Stars 13-1)

4th over: Stars 15-1 (Stoinis 5, Pietersen 2) Target: 140

Luke Wright finally breaks the shackles, backing to leg and cutting Willey through the covers for the first boundary of the chase. Wright tries it a second time and he’s gone! Identical delivery, identical stroke, this time straight to Voges who takes a Hollywood catch on the edge of the ring.

This Scorchers outfit looks like a well oiled machine in the field. There’s a level of intensity you rarely see at domestic level.

3rd over: Stars 8-0 (Stoinis 4, Wright 3) Target: 140

Another tight over from the Scorchers and the Stars are storing up trouble. The run rate has crept up from seven rpo to eight already. Tense.

2nd over: Stars 5-0 (Stoinis 2, Wright 2) Target: 140

Swing for David Willey and he backs up his fellow left-arm new ball paceman well. Stars taking no chances early.

Willey is obviously a fighter. Walks with purpose, like he’s imagining all his enemies dropping junk mail in his letterbox.

1st over: Stars 2-0 (Stoinis 1, Wright 1) Target: 140

Testing start to the run chase. Jason Behrendorff making the ball talk at pace and he’s unlucky not to pick up Marcus Stoinis early on. Such is the depth and quality of this attack you can’t see the Stars running away with proceedings like the Thunder did last night.

Weather update: still dry.

Your half-time orange:

A wrongun.

Updated

Stars require 140 to win

You’d have to make the Stars favourites at the halfway mark, keeping the Scorchers to a total at least ten runs under par. Daniel Worrall was the standout but the spin twins Beer and Zampa gave captain Hussey control through the middle overs.

Voges and Klinger will both be disappointed they threw their wickets away after getting set but their knocks have at least given the best defensive bowling unit in the competition something to defend.

Join me in a few minutes for the run chase.

20th over: Scorchers 139-7 (Bancroft 13, Paris 1)

Worrall’s been the pick of the Stars attack tonight and he finishes with 3/25 despite conceding a no-ball free hit from what should have been the final delivery of the innings.

WICKET Tye b Worrall 0 (Scorchers 135-7)

20th over: Scorchers 135-7 (Bancroft 13)

Worrall returns to polish off the innings and he’s desperately unlucky, Quiney taking a catch with his foot on the rope, turning a wicket into a six.

Not to worry, Worrall knocks Tye over with a yorker to claim his third scalp of the night.

WICKET! Agar b Hilfenhaus 6 (Scorchers 125-6)

19th over: Scorchers 126-6 (Bancroft 5, Tye 0)

There’s not been a boundary since the 15th over and Hilfenhaus keeps the Scorchers away from the rope in the penultimate over of their innings.

He’s rewarded with a wicket from the final delivery of his spell, full and straight and Agar misses, trying to work something unrealistic to leg. Stars are rampant.

18th over: Scorchers 120-5 (Agar 5, Bancroft 1)

Voges mentions how the Stars bowlers have had most success taking the pace off the ball and watching it hold in the pitch. Expect plenty of cross-seamers and cutters from the Scorchers later on.

Super over from Henning Berg.

WICKET! Voges c Hilfenhaus b Beer 52 (Scorchers 116-5)

18th over: Scorchers 116-5 (Agar 2)

Beer back on for the Stars and Voges slaps a full toss straight down Hilfenhaus’ throat at long on. Massive wicket for the Scorchers to lose and a freebie for the Stars. Big moment in the match.

17th over: Scorchers 115-4 (Voges 52, Agar 1)

Great over for the Stars and it was almost even greater but Hilfenhaus shells the catch of the tournament at fine leg after sprinting and diving full length to get hold of an Agar pull.


WICKET! Willey c Hussey b Stoinis 0 (Scorchers 109-4)

Disaster for Willey! The Englishman fails to pick Stoinis’ slower ball and launches him high in the air and into the waiting mitts of David Hussey at mid-on.

WICKET! Klinger c Stoinis b Zampa 44 (Scorchers 109-3)

16th over: Scorchers 109-3 (Voges 47)

Scorchers desperate to accelerate but Zampa’s variety and control is proving tough to get away. They’ve run well this pair though, turning plenty of singles into twos to keep the scoreboard moving even without boundaries.

Klinger eventually perishes though, trying too hard to slog Zampa and a high looping top edge is pouched safely by the midwicket boundary rider.

Interviewed immediately after his dismissal, Klinger reckons 145-150 on this pitch will be a decent total.

Oh, Niall from One Direction is in the house tonight.

15th over: Scorchers 103-2 (Klinger 42, Voges 44)

Klinger on the charge now and he has a few darts at Hilfenhaus, one of which clears the rope for a much needed six. Hilfy responds well though, fooling the Scorcher with his bouncer and nearly buying a wicket with a peculiar edge behind off the back of Klinger’s bat.

14th over: Scorchers 94-2 (Klinger 34, Voges 43)

Beer’s darts slow the run-rate down, despite Voges’ aggressive intent.

Quick thought: does Michael Beer look like former Manchester United and Norway defender Henning Berg?

13th over: Scorchers 88-2 (Klinger 31, Voges 40)

Voges has got his eye in and he tries to smash every delivery of this Stoinis over. His preferred smash is the skip down the pitch followed by a cross batted slog somewhere in the ‘V’. He only connects with one but the running for the others is enough to make it a decent over for Perth. Scorchers coming to the boil nicely here.

12th over: Scorchers 78-2 (Klinger 31, Voges 30)

Finally runs off Zampa with Voges lofting a beautifully timed straight drive. He comes back well though, backing his variety, and his quicker ball nearly does for Voges.

Meanwhile, over in South Africa:

11th over: Scorchers 69-2 (Klinger 29, Voges 23)

Hilfenhaus returns at the halfway mark of the Scorchers’ innings and he nearly takes a blinding return catch. Voges tries to force proceedings but slaps a length delivery through the hands of the bowler close to his right ear.

10th over: Scorchers 65-2 (Klinger 26, Voges 23)

Binary bowling from Zampa’s pair of overs so far - nothing but noughts and ones.

9th over: Scorchers 61-2 (Klinger 24, Voges 21)

Marcus Stoinis the latest to turn his arm over. Tournament figures of 5/44 before tonight for the allrounder. Klinger damages those numbers a touch with a leg glance to the fine-leg boundary.

Weather update - fine for now, not looking too bad later either.

8th over: Scorchers 53-2 (Klinger 18, Voges 19)

Spin from Adam Zampa and an excellent first over, just three from it. The leggie is Melbourne’s joint leading wicket taker this BBL. I hope is nose is better after this:

Out by a nose.

7th over: Scorchers 50-2 (Klinger 16, Voges 18)

Evan Gulbis replaces Worrall and Voges likes what he sees, slogging him over midwicket and then cutting him behind point for back-to-back fours. Gulbis responds by beating the outside edge of Voges’ bat before the Test star slaps another boundary over mid-on’s head.

Scorchers climbing back into this one.

6th over: Scorchers 36-2 (Klinger 15, Voges 5)

Beer continuing and Klinger’s taking no risks. Voges not taking any risks either, but because he knows the form he’s in he can sweep from outside off stump for four behind square leg. Scorchers just keeping themselves ticking along.

WICKET! Carberry c Handscomb b Worrall 13 (Scorchers 30-2)

5th over: Scorchers 30-2 (Klinger 14, Voges 0)

Worrall angling in like a drunk sprinting after a free kebab voucher. He might look unorthodox but he’s getting appreciable swing and mixing up his slower balls expertly.

And it’s worked a treat, hauling in Carberry for his second wicket! A few deliveries of swing followed by an off cutter and then a slower ball has the Englishman in knots. An airy swish finds the outside edge and it’s pouched cleanly behind the stumps.

Advantage Stars.

4th over: Scorchers 25-1 (Klinger 13, Carberry 9)

Beer’s spin into the attack early and his good start is ruined by an effortless lofted drive for four by Klinger. That was so close to the rope on the full it should be adjudged a five.

The TV broadcast indicating the Scorchers walked a chunk of the journey to the MCG tonight after getting stuck in traffic around the packed sporting precinct. Not ideal preparation.

3rd over: Scorchers 20-1 (Klinger 8, Carberry 9)

Worrall, with his throwback angled run-up, more than a hint of Bob Willis in that, and his gather too, has started well. Just three from a very tight over.

On the subject of angled run-ups, bookmark this beauty from Russell Jackson for perusal later.

2nd over: Scorchers 17-1 (Klinger 6, Carberry 8)

Swing too for Ben Hilfenhaus but it’s from the hand and wide giving Klinger his second three of the innings. Carberry shows Harris how to drive, leaning into a full half-volley and caressing it to the extra-cover fence. The Scorchers are up and running.

WICKET! Harris c Quiney b Worrall 1 (Scorchers 4-1)

1st over: Scorchers 6-1 (Klinger 3, Carberry 0)

Daniel Worrall opens the bowling for the Stars and there’s swing from the off! Swing! Remember that Australian cricket fans? Worrall shaping the ball into the left-handed Harris and away from the right-handed Klinger.

Klinger so important for the Scorchers. Two ducks in his last three innings but off the mark with a three first ball. Klinger the leading run scorer for the Scorchers this tournament, nearly double the next best on show tonight.

And out of nowhere a wicket! Harris tries to slap Worrall over mid-on but skies it straight to Quiney on the edge of the ring at mid-off. Great start for the home side.

After the 80k enormocrowd (you remember, the one that caused great consternation in cities that measure attendance per head of municipality rather than per head in the venue) sights will have been set high for another mega attendance tonight. Rain, tennis, and a return to real life after summer holidays may have put paid to all that, but anywhere around 40k shouldn’t be sniffed at.

So, what about the musical inspiration for tonight’s semi-final?

For the home side, recent events can only lead to one possible option:

Who will be Melbourne’s Starman tonight?

For the visitors? How about a little Weezer:

El Scorchers

And please, for all that is good in the world, let us not have reason to play:

Worst. Asterisk. Ever. ****ing ridiculous.

Weather forecast

There have been doomsday forecasts for Melbourne’s weather but it looks as though the rain will hold off long enough for a result to be achieved tonight. There are showers expected but the prolonged deluge has already blown through the city.

A minimum of five overs per side are required to constitute a result. Failing that, the Stars will progress by virtue of their higher regular season ladder position.

Toss - Stars elect to bowl first

David Hussey has won the toss and he wants his Stars to chase down a Scorchers total.

Logic - In the event of rain, the Duckworth Lewis method tends to favour sides chasing in T20. With showers expected at some point, Hussey is playing the odds.

Team line-ups

The Stars are unchanged from the side that thrashed the Scorchers last time out. KP on the big stage; lovely.

The Scorchers are missing the Marsh brothers and Nathan Coulter-Nile from their best XI but it’s still a mighty line-up packed full of experience and variety.

Preamble

The formerly flashy Melbourne Stars are favourites to reach their first final after four previous semi-final failures. Green Melbourne are reaping the rewards of a more team-focussed approach to this year’s tournament, under the stewardship of coach Stephen Fleming and captain David Hussey. After falling at the penultimate hurdle in every iteration of the BBL so far, only KP remains of the VIP DNA that used to be the Stars’ USP. Five wins from their last six gives an indication of form. A demolition of tonight’s opponents under a week ago reflects the favourability of the match-up.

If the Stars are the great underachievers, no side has punched above its weight more than the team from Perth. They’ve featured in every BBL final to date, winning the most recent two. The symbolism of coach Justin Langer breaking bread with Hawthorn FC’s Alastair Clarkson this week was not lost on Australia’s sporting public. The Scorchers have defeated the Stars at this stage of the competition three times already.

Sydney Thunder’s upset victory over Adelaide Strikers last night means the winner of tonight’s contest will host Sunday’s final. Hosting rights go to the side that finished the regular season in the highest ladder position, automatically ruling out fourth-placed Thunder.

I encourage you to Tweet me throughout the night @JPHowcroft or email me at: jonathan.howcroft.freelance@guardian.co.uk. It’s more fun when I know I’m not typing to myself like some deranged digital chronicler of made for TV sport.

Jonathan will be here shortly to steer you through the second BBL semi-final. While you’re waiting, read all about Usman Khawaja’s dominant performance last night, blasting Sydney Thunder past Adelaide Strikers in the first semi.

Updated

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