Scorchers make it to the top as Stars fail despite Rauf’s three-fer

Perth Scorchers made the most of Melbourne Stars’ woeful batting performance as they chased the paltry total within 17 overs with six wickets to spare. While both teams are already through to the playoffs, their last group stage game was not technically a dead rubber. The two teams battled out to find who would finish at the top and earn the hosting rights for the qualifiers. 

Stars’ batters failed to show up

Asked to bat first by the Scorchers, the Stars’ batters lost two wickets within the first over. By the time the powerplay ended, they were down by another. Captain Marcus Stoinis and Campbell Kellaway brewed a 55-run partnership, with Hilton Cartwright adding a few runs, albeit at a modest strike rate. 

After these three batters, the Stars were quickly wrapped up by Jhye Richardson, who was spitting fire at the death. 

With 131 to defend, Melbourne bowlers had a nearly impossible task at hand. However, Haris Rauf decided throw in some drama to what would otherwise have been a simple chase. 

Rauf made 131 look defendable

The Pakistan fast bowler removed the Scorchers’ heavyweight Mitchell Marsh on the very first ball of his spell. He, then, followed it up with another scalp on the next ball. Giving his team a realistic shot at defending the total, he grabbed a third wicket in his next over, leaving Perth in disarray at 26 for 3.

He’d have bagged another, had it not been for Glenn Maxwell fumbling in the field to drop Aaron Hardie. Hardie paired up with Finn Allen to hit a quick 94 runs. The partnership was the last nail in the coffin for the Stars. Even after Allen’s dismissal, the Scorchers got over the line with ease. 

ALSO READ:https://www.ipl.com/cricket/news/pakistan-tv-pull-off-record-defence-against-sngpl-in-presidents-trophy-grade-i/