KP's Stars align to break finals curse

The match in a tweet: Stars end semi-final hoodoo! KP & co chase Scorchers' 7-139 with 7 wickets in hand to book spot in maiden BBL final #BBL05

The heroes: The Stars bowling group, who turned the tables on their long-time finals foe by doing a Scorchers on the Scorchers. Accurate, patient, hostile and clever, the Stars bowlers – Dan Worrall, Adam Zampa, Ben Hilfenhaus and Michael Beer chief among them – executed their plans perfectly, rarely straying in line and length and thus giving their opponents few opportunities to free their arms. No John Hastings? No Scott Boland? No worries, this lot did the business on the big stage.

Watch: Worrall destroys Scorchers top order

The knock: Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Kevin Pietersen (62 from 36) has been questioned for many things in his colourful career but few have ever doubted his capacity as a big-match player. The gifted right-hander looked a man on a mission from the outset, steeling himself to see out the Stars' run chase. And that's exactly what he did. Arriving at the crease at 1-13 after 3.5, with his team well behind the run-rate, Pietersen turned the tables with a measured aggression, playing second fiddle initially to Marcus Stoinis (44 from 41) before stepping up his strike-rate when required. It was composed, calculated batting – the sort of innings Stars fans would doubtless have been expecting from their marquee man when a finals berth was on the line. And while he was out as he turned entertainer in the closing stages, by that point it was game over. 

WATCH: KP guides Stars with match-winning knock

The stat: One. That's how many semi-finals Melbourne Stars have won, from five attempts. Long story short, they've made it! History was against the Stars leading into this one, having been beaten in three previous finals by the Scorchers, and once by the Hurricanes, to earn a reputation as the tournament's chokers.

The moment: The Scorchers lost Marcus Harris in the first over and never fully recovered, as Worrall found some swing and venom with the new ball and made scoring difficult. It was a huge confidence boost for the home side who, given their history with the Scorchers, needed a positive start to instil that belief that might have been lacking in previous semi-finals.

The consolation effort: Adam Voges has been in excellent form all summer and he carried the Scorchers tonight, making 52 from 40 to give his side something to bowl at. Michael Klinger made 44 from 45 but the two were stifled whenever they attempted to up the ante. And what about Brad Hogg? In what may prove to be the final match of a wonderful career, the left-armer let no-one down, taking 1-20 from his four overs. 

The wash-up: Stars v Thunder. Who'd have thought? The Hussey brothers now face off as opposing captains in Mike's farewell appearance from Australian cricket, and a huge crowd will likely turn out at the MCG for what should be a cracking contest between two exciting teams. Regardless of the outcome, by match's end on Sunday, we'll be crowning a brand new Big Bash champion. 

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