Rain washes out Stars and Scorchers clash

Persistent Launceston rain meant a result wasnt possible in the Big Bash contest between the Melbourne Stars and Perth Scorchers at York Park on Wednesday night.

Chasing their first win of the tournament Perth reached 6-158 from 17 overs before the rain arrived, stopping briefly to set up a chase of 76 in six overs for the team in green before the heavens again opened after just seven balls of the Stars innings, the teams sharing the points.

The undefeated Stars decided to bowl first upon winning the toss, Josh Inglis recording a second failure in as many matches as he departed for seven to Billy Stanlake.

Imports Colin Munro and Joe Clarke were in dynamic form, Clarke smashing three sixes in a breezy 16 ball knock of 34 before edging behind of Lewis Hatcher.

The New South Wales quick was on a hat trick when he won a leg before wicket decision on Mitch Marsh the following ball, despite the ball appearing to be heading down the leg side.

Ashton Turner survived the hat trick ball and went on the attack, hitting five sixes including three off state team mate Hilton Cartwright in one stunning over of hitting.

New Zealander Munro was building a solid innings of his own with the Stars bowlers under pressure, Perth scoring in excess of ten runs to the over.

It was the part time left arm spin of Nic Maddinson that stalled the innings, Turner out for 39 and Munro holing out to deep square leg one run short of a half century.

Aaron Hardie laboured to 2 from 8 balls as the innings lost it's way, Cameron Bancroft left to bat with the tail to give the side a chance of setting a challenging score.

The rain arrived with three overs left in the Scorchers innings, taking the players from the field for more than 90 minutes as a restart appeared unlikely.

The deluge stopped long enough for the covers to be removed and the Stars set a score of 76 in six overs for victory, Marcus Stoinis and Andre Fletcher taking ten runs from the opening Joel Paris over as the rain began to fall once more.

Jhye Richardson trapped Stoinis with his first and ultimately only ball of the match, the weather having the final say as it took the players from the field for a second and ultimately last time.

The no result sees both teams recieve 2 points, 1.5 for the failure to complete the match and 0.5 of the bash boost awarded to each side.

The Scorchers now move to Canberra to face the Sydney Thunder in their next match on Tuesday, the Stars with a ten day break before they face the Sydney Sixers on Boxing Day on the Gold Coast.

IMAGE: Cricket Australia.