Scorchers lock up top spot as Stars stumble
The result means Perth (7-3) will finish top of the standings and host either Hobart or Sydney Sixers in a first-second ‘Qualification’ clash on Tuesday.
If Perth wins, it will host the grand final.
The Stars (6-4) will now have to do it the hard way from third or fourth, and their final spot will depend on Sunday’s matchup at the Gabba between the fourth-place Sixers (5-3, one elimination) and the fifth-place Brisbane Heat (5-4).
The writing was on the Stars’ wall after Cooper Connolly (2-18 in three overs) continued his batting prowess in the first half – this time it became a double pleasure.
Connolly’s first two deliveries took him for four, but he caught Tom Rogers and then bowled clean to Joe Clarke in the next ball as the Stars took the first over to make it 2-9.
Sam Harper became Richardson’s first victim of the night as he easily caught Luke Holt to leave the Stars 3-15 down.
Stoinis (55 off 39 balls) and Campbell Kellaway (19 off 20 balls) steadied the ship with a 52-run stand.
But Stars were in trouble again at 5-100 when Kellaway charged upfield and fell behind and Stoinis then fell to Richardson.
The biggest devastation came during the Power Surge in the 16th and 17th overs, when the Stars lost 3-8.
Richardson made it 2-0 during the Power Surge, collecting the out-of-form Glenn Maxwell (three from eight balls) and then dismissing the next ball with a hard-earned catch and bowled.
