Scorchers lock up top spot as Stars stumble
The result means Perth (7-3) finish on top of the ladder and will host either Hobart or the Sydney Sixers on Tuesday in first-versus-second ‘Qualifier’ battle.
If Perth win that, they will host the grand final.
The Stars (6-4) will now have to do it the hard way from either third or fourth, with their final placing depending on Sunday’s clash between the fourth-placed Sixers (5-3, one washout) and fifth-placed Brisbane Heat (5-4) at the Gabba.
The writing was on the wall for the Stars early on after Cooper Connolly (2-18 off three overs) continued his knack of striking in the first over – this time making it a double delight.
Connolly’s first two deliveries went for four, but he had Tom Rogers caught and then he clean bowled Joe Clarke next ball as the Stars finished the first over at 2-9.
Sam Harper became Richardson’s first victim of the night when he skyed an easy catch to Luke Holt, leaving the Stars reeling at 3-15.
Stoinis (55 off 39 balls) and Campbell Kellaway (19 off 20 balls) steadied the ship with a 52-run stand.
But when Kellaway charged down the pitch and was caught behind and then Stoinis fell at the hands of Richardson, the Stars were back in trouble at 5-100.
The biggest destruction came during the Power Surge in the 16th and 17th overs when the Stars lost 3-8.
Richardson snared 2-0 during his Power Surge over, sending the out-of-form Glenn Maxwell (three off eight balls) packing before pulling off a hard-earned caught and bowled dismissal next ball.
