Scorchers regain top spot after overcoming depleted Stars

Three additional players tried positive in the Melbourne Stars' set-up with the count extending to upwards of 10 players and eight from the care staff having gotten the infection. However, the Big Bash League conflict between the Stars and Perth Scorchers went on as planned at the Junction Oval in Melbourne, wherein, the Scorchers recovered their spot at the highest point of the table with an agreeable 50-run success in the main round of Sunday's (January 2) twofold header. With a drained crew to pick from, the Stars had four debutants. Scorchers selected to bat and were driven by opener Kurtis Patterson and Colin Munro, who added 68 runs for the subsequent wicket. Munro succumbed to a quickfire 20-ball 40, while Patterson arrived at a fifty preceding falling in the twelfth over. Captain Ashton Turner swung the energy back in the Scorchers' approval later wickets one after another with a late 27-run appearance to agree with his position past 160. Ashton Agar's 19 guaranteed they wrapped up with a monumental complete of 180 subsequent to having come from a misfortune and having lost two of their star in Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis to public obligations. Joe Clarke and Tom Rogers gave the Stars the best beginning with a blasting 78-run represent the initial wicket until both fell in progressive overs. From there on the Scorchers didn't permit the Stars to return, picking normal wickets and not letting the game out of their hold. Tymal Mills picked 3-28, while man of the match Peter Hatzoglou had 2-27, however the pick of the bowlers was Andrew Tye who yielded only 11 runs in three overs for his two wickets as the Stars disintegrated from 95 for 2 to being all out for 130 in 18.4 overs. Brief scores: Perth Scorchers 180/8 in 20 overs (Kurtis Patterson 54, Colin Munro 40; Haris Rauf 2-40, Qais Ahmad 2-26) beat Melbourne Stars 130 in 18.4 overs (Joe Clarke 52, Tom Rogers 32; Tymal Mills 3-28, Andrew Tye 2-11, Peter Hatzoglou 2-27) by 50 runs.