Stars set Scorchers 162 to win BBL clash

Acting captain Brad Hodge played a classy knock of 61 as BBL title favourites Melbourne Stars set Perth Scorchers a target of 162 to win their MCG clash.

Hodge, 39, smashed nine fours off 43 deliveries to lead the way in the home side’s total of 6-161 in sunny conditions on the Australia Day holiday Monday.

The Stars were missing several key players on Australian duties including Cameron White, Glenn Maxwell, James Muirhead, Matthew Wade and Clint McKay.

Unbeaten in seven matches this season, the Stars will host the first semi-final against fourth-placed Hobart Hurricanes at the MCG on February 4.

Perth will play the Sydney Sixers the following day in the other cut-throat semi-final and will win hosting rights if they beat the Stars.

Spinner Michael Beer (2-27) opened the bowling and struck two early blows, removing the tournament’s second-leading runscorer Luke Wright stumped for 13 and Pakistan import Mohammad Hafeez caught at slip for four.

Experienced No.4 batsman David Hussey was run out by Scorchers captain Simon Katich for six in another vital breakthrough for the visitors with the score on 51. Hussey lingered briefly at the crease following some chirp from cheeky Scorchers’ fieldsman Brad Hogg.

Marcus Stoinis hit a career-best 25 in a 60-run stand with Hodge for the fourth wicket before Hodge holed out to long-on in the following over at 5-114.

Alex Keath (four) was also run out but the Stars regained momentum by taking 15 runs off the 18th over, bowled by spinner Brad Hogg who conceded 36 off three overs.

Peter Handscomb (25 not out) and tailender John Hastings (13 not out) added 38 in the last four overs.

Hodge said the pitch had taken spin from the first ball of the match.

“The wicket’s still slow. It’s tough work so a good score is going to be hard to chase,” Hodge told Channel Ten.

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