In a dominating performance, the Perth Scorchers asserted their authority in the Big Bash League (BBL 2023) by overpowering the Melbourne Stars with a seven-wicket victory at the MCG. The two-time defending champions showcased their prowess, chasing down the target with more than six overs to spare, marking a strong start to their title defense after a previous false start.
The Scorchers’ left-arm opening bowler, Jason Behrendorff, played a starring role with impressive figures of 3 for 28, including a rare T20 double wicket maiden. After dismissing the Stars for a mere 101 runs in 19.1 overs, the Scorchers extended their winning streak against the Stars to six matches. This victory follows the Brisbane Heat’s earlier triumph over the Stars by 103 runs in the BBL 2023 season opener.
The match marked a return to form for the Scorchers after the abandonment of their previous game against the Melbourne Renegades in Geelong due to a waterlogged pitch. Behrendorff commented on the team’s performance, stating, “It’s a nice start after a false start in Geelong – we talked about being aggressive and throwing the first punch … we did it quite well tonight.
The Stars struggled in their innings, losing their first two wickets in as many overs, while the Scorchers’ top order performed solidly, with all of the top three batsmen contributing at least 20 runs. Despite the Stars’ energy in the field, run-out chances went amiss, and near-misses added to their woes.
Stars’ openers Cooper Connolly and Stevie Eskinazi, along with Aaron Hardie at No. 3, made contributions to anchor the innings, but the team faltered on a challenging wicket. The Scorchers’ fielding prowess and Behrendorff’s key dismissals limited the Stars to a below-par total.
Liam Dawson and Haris Rauf showed resilience for the Stars in a 21-run partnership for the last wicket, pushing the score past 100. However, missed opportunities, including a run-out chance and a dropped catch, spared the Stars from a more embarrassing total.
Left-arm wristspinner Hamish McKenzie made an impactful debut, claiming a hat-trick opportunity in the 14th over and finishing with impressive figures of 2 for 12, earning him the player-of-the-match accolade.
With this convincing victory, the Scorchers maintain their status as a BBL benchmark, while the Stars face challenges in the absence of key players like Glenn Maxwell, Nathan Coulter-Nile, and Joe Burns. As the BBL 2023 takes a break until December 19, the league has seen a mix of underwhelming results, with a washout and the Geelong non-result among the seven matches played so far.
