Scorchers thump Hurricanes to secure home semi-final
Perth Scorchers, led by Shaun Marsh's fifty, aced a chase of 135 in 13.5 overs to secure a home semi-final at the WACA, where they are tough to beat
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
A major reason for the Hurricanes' failure to post a substantial total was the performance of Mitchell Johnson. The fast bowler has tended to be held back by the Scorchers, but on Saturday he took the new ball, and he took it sensationally, mixing his pace and digging it in plenty. Adam Voges kept him on for three overs in the Powerplay, in which time he picked up the wickets of Tim Paine, caught behind off a brute of a short ball, and danger man Ben McDermott, hurried on the pull and picking out the fielder in the deep. The Scorchers were on their way.
Three down at the half-way mark of the innings, George Bailey - who was knocking the ball around patiently - was shaping as the key man for the Hurricanes. He had already been dropped by Ashton Turner at long-off, so he took on Ashton Agar straight down the ground. This time, Turner found a moment of brilliance. Running to his right and tight to the rope, he caught the ball, tumbled over the rope but tossed it up to Tim Bresnan, who was some 10 metres away running from long-on. It was a brilliant piece of teamwork, but did Turner's foot touch the rope? Bailey smiled and stood his ground, Scorchers celebrated, and the on-field umpires sent it upstairs. After an age, and with no categorically conclusive footage, Damien Mealey, the third umpire, sided with Turner's touch of genius and Bailey was on his way.
The middle period of the game belonged to the recalled Clive Rose. It was his late heave-ho that gave the Hurricanes respectability and something to defend. Then with the ball he put the brakes on the Scorchers' chase. His second ball was tossed up and full and Sam Whiteman - promoted to open - belted it down the ground. Four all the way, or so he thought. Rose stuck out his right hand and, remarkably, it stuck. Rose, who attracts as much attention for his bookish looks as his cricket, wheeled away as if he took catches like this every day. Unfortunately for the Hurricanes, that was their final moment of magic.
Marsh came into this game with a season average of 11, and one double-figure score. He was demoted to No. 3, but instantly looked in superb touch, with attractive cover-drives and pulls.
Hurricanes finished seventh, just above Sydney Thunder. Scorchers secured a home semi-final, and moved top of the table. Simple.
Will Macpherson writes on cricket for the Guardian, ESPNcricinfo and All Out Cricket. @willis_macp