Perth Scorchers Brush Aside Melbourne Stars in BBL Opener

Key Highlights

• Jhye Richardson took three wickets, including the key wickets of Joe Clarke and Sam Harper
• Cooper Connolly scored his maiden fifty in the competition, helping the Scorchers chase down the target
• Tom Curran was the top scorer for the Stars with 37 runs, but his efforts were not enough to save the match

Match Summary

The Perth Scorchers started their Big Bash League (BBL) campaign on a winning note, defeating the Melbourne Stars by six wickets in the opening match. The Scorchers' middle order, led by Cooper Connolly and Ashton Turner, played a crucial role in the chase, as they overhauled the Stars' total of 146/9 with 17 balls to spare.

Stars' Poor Start

The Stars made a poor start to their innings, losing three wickets in the first three overs. Jason Behrendorff bowled a maiden to kickstart proceedings, and Jhye Richardson struck twice, trapping Joe Clarke and Sam Harper leg-before-wicket. Marcus Stoinis got himself a good start, but his side needed him in the middle quite badly in the death overs.

Connolly's Maiden Fifty

Cooper Connolly played a crucial role in the Scorchers' chase, scoring his maiden fifty in the competition. He launched sixes off Adam Milne and Brody Couch, and his partnership with Ashton Turner helped the Scorchers recover from a precarious 37/3.

Scorchers' Dominant Display

The Scorchers' middle order played a dominant display, as they overhauled the Stars' total with ease. Tom Curran, the Stars' top scorer, was unable to deliver with the ball, conceding three boundaries in the 15th over of the chase. The Scorchers eventually sealed the deal, winning the match by six wickets.

Brief Scores

• Melbourne Stars: 146/9 in 20 overs (Tom Curran 37, Marcus Stoinis 37; Jhye Richardson 3/24)
• Perth Scorchers: 150/4 in 17.1 overs (Cooper Connolly 64, Ashton Turner 37*; Tom Curran 1/25)