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Perth Scorchers secured top spot on the KFC BBL|15 ladder, toppling Melbourne Stars by six wickets before a Club record regular season crowd at Optus Stadium.
Below are the central talking points from a win that place the Scorchers in prime position for a title tilt. The FinnisherFresh from his maiden Big Bash hundred against Melbourne Renegades two days ago, Finn Allen (69) was the centrepiece of the Scorchers’ chase with a knock of arguably more significance. There was the standard array of fireworks, many behind square over the legside, as the powerful right-handder launched seven balls into the stands. But it was Allen’s composure and clarity that shone brightest while early wickets fell around him, executing most of the calculated risks he took – with a dash of luck thrown in the mix – en route to his third 50+ score of BBL|15. Allen finished the regular season as his team’s leading run-scorer (381), has the competition’s fourth-highest strike rate (189.55), and will cause headaches for all strategists plotting the Scorchers’ demise in finals. The only downside to Allen’s form is the risk he poses should Australia meet the Kiwi opener in full flight during next month’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.Golden arm does it againCooper Connolly (2-18 from three overs) reinforced is invaluable knack for striking in the first over of an innings, removing Stars pair Tom Rogers and Joe Clarke with the game’s third and fourth deliveries. Rogers, who started with consecutive boundaries, top-edged to Mahli Beardman at short fine leg, before Connolly speared one into Clarke’s middle stump the very next ball. Having opened the bowling six times in BBL|15, the reigning BBL Player of the Tournament has now taken five scalps in four of those overs. Connolly also leads the team for wickets with 13 at 15.38 (second) and an economy of 6.66 (second), bettered only by Ashton Turner (3-2 from two overs) in those categories. He’s backIt was only a matter of time before star quick Jhye Richardson hit his straps, taking 4-16 from 3.2 overs in an emphatic return to form. The skilful right-armer was on from the outset, dismissing the competition’s second-highest run-scorer, Sam Harper, in his first over. A double-wicket maiden in the 17th over was the pinnacle of a stunning performance, removing superstar Glenn Maxwell and Haris Rauf in consecutive deliveries. The latter of those saw Richardson sprint at full tilt to complete a skied return catch near short leg, showcasing serious competitive hunger given Josh Inglis and Cooper Connolly were both in the area. Richardson bowled with decent pace, extreme skill and impressive match awareness, setting him up for an enormous finals campaign. David and GoliathWhenever his team needs a big wicket, British left-armer David Payne is so often the man who answers the call. Marcus Stoinis was humming on 55 from 39 when Payne angled a length ball towards off stump across the Stars skipper, who picked out Richardson at short third man. This season alone, his victims include Marcus Stoinis and Chris Lynn, while a flu-riddled Payne was famously responsible for removing an in-form Steve Smith early in the BBL|12 Qualifier. A vital addition in the back half of the season with considerable experience and variations galore, Payne’s commendable tally of six wickets from four games doesn’t do justice to the impact he’s had. MATCH DETAILS
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Perth Scorchers 134 for 4 (Allen 69, Hardie 41*, Rauf 3-23) beat Melbourne Stars 130 (Stoinis 55, Richardson 4-16) by six wickets
Jhye Richardson spearheaded a slick attack before Finn Allen blasted a half-century under pressure as Perth Scorchers clinched the all-important top position on the BBL ladder in a result that means Melbourne Stars will be thrust into a knockout final.
There was much at stake in the penultimate match of the regular season with the teams fighting for first place and a double chance in the finals.
Amid a record regular season crowd in Perth of 48,608, Scorchers secured two home finals after Richardson claimed 4 for 16 to restrict Stars to a lowly 130 before Allen hit 69 off 39 balls having capitalised on two dropped chances.
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