Perth Scorchers continue dominance with polished Melbourne Stars win

Laurie Evans scores 69 and completes a stumping with the gloves as Scorchers go within touching distance of the Qualifier

Geelong: Perth Scorchers 196-3, Melbourne Stars 149-9 - Perth Scorchers won by 47 runs

Laurie Evans was the hero with the bat and gloves as Perth Scorchers cruised to a 10th regular-season victory over Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League.

The three-time champions are now within touching distance of securing a place in the Qualifier, which provides a direct route to the final, after a 47-run success in Geelong.

Evans' 69 from 46 balls helped the Scorchers put on a GMHBA Stadium-record BBL score of 196 for 3.

Nick Hobson, playing his in his first match since BBL 08, added 46 at the top of the order before cameos from captain Ashton Turner (47*) and Aaron Hardie (15*) lifted them to an imperious total.

It was always to prove a struggle for Stars, who despite welcoming back skipper Glenn Maxwell after serving his Covid isolation period had other issues to cope with.

In-form Nottinghamshire batter Joe Clarke, who had hit four consecutive half-centuries coming into the game, dropped down the order complaining of fatigue.

^{Matthew Kelly claimed four wickets as the Stars stumbled in the chase (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)}

That predicament reflected the Stars chase, and they looked in trouble from the outset, reaching 69 for 3 at the halfway point.

Any hope they did have was firmly extinguished when Beau Webster (63) was dismissed by Andrew Tye.

Having already left his mark on the contest with the bat, Evans did the same with the gloves standing in for Cameron Bancroft who had been identified as the Covid close contact before play.

It was just the third time the Surrey man had kept wicket but he combined with Ashton Agar to complete the stumping of Clint Hinchcliffe (1)

Clarke (17) followed in the returning Jason Behrendorff's penultimate over and the wheels had firmly fallen off the chase when Qais Ahmad (9) was bowled by Hardie and Adam Zampa (3) was run-out in the final over as they finished well short on 149 for 9. Matthew Kelly meanwhile finished with figures of 4 for 25.

Victory in either of the Scorchers' final two games will see them secure a top-two place and passage to the Qualifier, while Stars remain in a four-way battle for the final playoff place.