Melbourne Stars set up a Big Bash League (BBL) 2015-2016 Final with Sydney Thunder on Sunday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), after thrashing the champions Perth Scorchers by 7 wickets and almost two overs to spare.
Kevin Pietersen was the man who stepped up on the big occasion and powered his side into their first ever final since the inception of the tournament.
The Stars have featured in almost all the semifinals of the previous seasons of BBL, but never could make it to the final, until now.
Meanwhile, the most consistent side of the BBL, Perth Scorchers, were comprehensively beaten by the Stars. Scorchers who have played each and every single BBL final bowed out of the tournament for the first time in the semifinals and it all happened because of one man -- Pietersen.
Earlier, Scorchers went out to bat first and struggled right from the start. The Stars' bowling lineup did not give any room to any of the Scorchers batsmen. Scorchers skipper Michael Klinger and Adam Voges added some crucial runs, but that was not enough, as Perth could only post 139 at the end of 20 overs.
Daniel Worrall was the pick of the bowlers for Stars, as he picked up three wickets by giving away just 25 runs in his spell of four overs. Adam Zampa, Ben Hilfenhaus, Michael Beer and Marcus Stoinis claimed a wicket each.
Stars overhauled Scorchers' score easliy. Although, they lost the wicket of the in-form Luke Wright, Pietersen and Marcus Stoinis steadied the run chase. Both batsmen added 69 runs in tandem.
Pietersen scored 62 runs from just 39 balls, to anchor the chase brillianlty. That partnership with Stoinis took the game away from Scorchers. Pietersen was also adjudged the man of the match.
