Stars David Hussey and George Bailey celebrate.

Stars David Hussey and George Bailey celebrate. Photo: Getty Images

THE Melbourne Stars have the chance to realise their lofty expectations in the Big Bash League, earning a semi-final spot against the Perth Scorchers at the WACA Ground tomorrow.

A diligent bowling display led by Clint Mckay and an unbeaten 41 from the ever-reliable David Hussey earned the Stars a six-wicket victory – 4-129 to a listless Adelaide Strikers’ 125 – with seven balls remaining last night at the MCG.

If the Stars beat Perth they will qualify not only for the final but also for the lucrative Champions League Twenty20 tournament, which would be galling for the Scorchers considering they finished the seven-round season in first position.

The Strikers knew that to overtake Brisbane Heat’s net run-rate and qualify for tomorrow night’s semi-final in Perth they had to either win by about 80 runs or within 10 overs.

The former would have given them a clearer idea of the type of innings required, but they opted to bat. If that strategy was to work the visitors’ Nathan Lyon-led spin attack would have to excel as South African Alfonso Thomas was their only specialist paceman.

In Daniel Harris and Michael Klinger the Strikers boasted the most experienced opening partnership in the BBL. But the need for a very big score from Adelaide – effectively it was starting 85 runs in deficit – was not reflected in its batting approach during the powerplay.

With only two fielders permitted in the outfield the batsmen were instead largely content to push for twos and three in the many large gaps. The Strikers were 1-46 after the six-over powerplay but that was the absolute minimum required, considering their semi-final qualifying requirements.

The first bowler to be given consecutive overs without a break, Mckay, rewarded that show of faith by claiming a wicket in both of those overs.

Mckay is renowned for his well-disguised slower balls but even by his standards last night they were the rule rather than the exception across his four overs.

Nevertheless, that none of the Strikers’ batsmen were a match for him, was was reflected in his ultra-economical figures of 3-17.

By the time the Strikers reached parity – 80 runs – they had only eight overs left to make a score and had four key batsmen back in the change rooms: Harris (17), Klinger (25), Aiden Blizzard (7) and newly signed New Zealand all-rounder James Franklin (7).

While Adelaide’s batting depth looks robust on paper the only one of their batsmen who last night looked capable of mastering the Stars bowlers was Callum Ferguson.

The classy right-hander showed why he was a key member of the Australian ODI team a few years ago with some assured batting to drag Adelaide’s score above 100.

The possibility of a score well above 150, however, disappeared when Ferguson, fresh from belting Shane Warne straight for six, scooped a catch in 17th over when on 41.

The most animated the Stars players, particularly Warne and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade, became was after the arrival at the crease of former Bushrangers wicketkeeper Adam Crosthwaite. Both keepers, rivals when Crosthwaite was in Victoria, are renowned sledgers and it was no surprise that when Crosthwaite was bowled by the gentle off-spin of David Hussey he departed to a prolonged tirade from his former teammates.

Test off-spinner Lyon was tidy without being threatening when given the new ball for the Strikers. He nevertheless proved his worth with an outstanding fielding effort, grabbing a rasping drive from Luke Wright in his follow through and in the same motion breaking the non-striker’s stumps to run out a stunned Rob Quiney for two.

At 3-38 with out-of-form captain Cameron White just in and struggling batsman George Bailey to come, the Stars needed a decent partnership.

Hussey led the effort and with White, who scored 28, shared in a decisive 64-run partnership.