Stars wallop the Scorchers
The Melbourne Stars eased to what turned out to be a routine win over the Perth Scorchers at the WACA on Saturday thanks to a measured knock from Kevin Pietersen and some lusty blows from Marcus Stoinis.
The Stars earned a comfortable seven wicket victory when they chased down the target of 135 with 26 balls to spare ending on 137 for 3.
The Scorchers struggled to gather any momentum after a series of early wickets with opener Michael Klinger (3) going at the end of the second over.
In the next over Michael Beer struck two quick blows tarpping Ian Bell and Cameron Bancroft leg before for a pair of ducks.
Shaun Marsh (8) and Hilton Cartwright (7) would also depart cheaply to leave the Scorchers in serious trouble at 34 for 5.
Andrew Tye would top score hitting 42 off 33 balls to stabilize the innings while the lower order helped the Scorchers inch towards respectability.
Ashton Turner made 15 off 17 balls to assist Tye before Ashton Agar came out to guide his team to the finish, he made 29 off 20 balls while English allrounder Tim Bresnan hit 20 off 15 balls at the death.
The Scorchers managed a total of 134 for 7 from their twenty overs.
Beer ended as the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2 for 12 from his four overs.
Rob Quiney came out all guns blazing sharing a 35 run opening stand with Englishmen Luke Wright who made just 7 before being caught on the hook off the bowling of Jhye Richardson.
The score moved to 56 before Quiney (35) skied one from Bresnan and Marsh got underneath it.
Peter Handscomb couldn’t make a significant impact before Richardson induced a false shot from the Australia Test batsman whose checked pull was well taken by Turner.
Pietersen (44 not out) played a more measured role than usual intent on seeing the Stars through to the win with Marcus Stoinis (40 not out off 23 balls) taking on the bowling in his stead and winning the match with a six.
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