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Scorchers into BBL final

Hogg leads Perth into final

01/21/2012 11:55:44 AM

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The Perth Scorchers will host the inaugural Big Bash League grand final after cruising to an 11-run win over the Melbourne Stars at the WACA on Saturday night.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Scorchers put on 3-174 from their 20 overs - South African veteran Herschelle Gibbs leading the way with 71 off 46 balls.

The Stars looked solid in their run chase at 1-75 in the eight over, but they collapsed after Brad Hogg claimed the scalp of James Faulkner before struggling to 8-163.

The Scorchers' opponents in the decider will be either the Hobart Hurricanes or the Sydney Sixers, who meet in the second semi at Blundstone Arena on Sunday night.

Batting first, Gibbs and Perth captain Marcus North gave the Scorchers an impressive start as they added 57 in 39 deliveries for the opening wicket.

Gibbs signalled his intentions in the second over by blasting three consecutive fours off the bowling of Jackson Bird (1-39) but he was lucky to get a reprieve in the same over when Luke Wright dropped a sitter on the fence.

North brought up the 50 from just 34 balls as he strode down the wicket and belted Faulkner (0-40) for six, with 53 runs coming from the six-over batting powerplay.

The skipper was dismissed soon after though, with his leg-side flick superbly caught by David Hussey at backward square leg off the bowling of Clint McKay (1-35).

Englishman Paul Collingwood strode to the crease but some tidy bowling from Shane Warne (0-29), Bird and McKay slowed Perth's run rate.

Gibbs scored his fourth half-century from six matches in the Big Bash League this season off just 35 balls and, in between close calls, he continued to find the boundary regularly.

At 120-1 from 14 overs, Perth were in an ideal position build a mammoth total, but Collingwood (31) holed out to George Bailey off the bowling of McKay and Gibbs fell shortly after for 71, with Wright (1-14) making amends for his dropped effort when he took a catch off his own bowling.

Mitch Marsh (41) blasted four sixes and a four in the final three overs and his late hitting ensured Perth finished with a flurry.

In reply, the Stars made a rocky start to the run chase when Rob Quiney (8) – who had looked in ominous form with a couple of early boundaries – was stumped by Luke Ronchi off the bowling of Michael Beer in the first over.

The Stars steadied through Wright and Faulkner, with the pair putting on 68 for the second wicket, but the introduction of Hogg broke the partnership.

The veteran spinner claimed Faulkner for 38, before Ben Edmondson took two wickets in two balls to put the Scorchers well on top.

First he had Wright (33) out caught by North at midwicket and then Ronchi pulled off a brilliant diving catch to dismiss Hussey first ball, leaving the Stars reeling at 4-88 in the 11th over.
The home side began to turn the screws, with Adam Voges departing for eight when he miscued a pull off Marsh and when Cameron White holed out to Simon Katich in the deep in Marsh's next over, the Stars' last hope was gone.

Hogg (2-17), Marsh (2-17) and Edmondson (2-32) were the pick of the Perth bowlers, while Beer chipped in with 1-20.

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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