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The Perth Scorchers have shot to the top of the BBL10 ladder, firming for a top two finish after defeating the Melbourne Stars by 11 runs at the MCG on Saturday night.
The Scorchers posted 4-182 after being invited to bat first by Melbourne, Jason Roy and Liam Livingstone adding 83 for the first wicket to set the tone for the innings.
Livingstone fell to the left arm leg spin of Zahir Khan, Roy going on to make 54 from 32 balls his second half century of the tournament.
Colin Munro's unbeaten 46 was the highlight of the back half of the innings, the Kiwi striking four fours and two sixes to steer the total past 180 with help from Josh Inglis (26) and skipper Ashton Turner (18* from 9 balls).
The Stars chase got off to a poor start, Jason Behrendorff with a wicket maiden over in dismissing Marcus Stoinis for 14, Seb Gotch run out in bizarre fashion when he lost his footing in trying to regain his ground at the non-strikers end, inches short confirmed by a television replay.
When Stars skipper Glenn Maxwell picked out his opposite number Turner from Fawad Ahmed's first delivery for a duck, the home side was in all sorts of trouble at 3-42.
Nick Larkin and Nic Maddinson added 62 for the fourth wicket to give the team in green some hope, but the overs were ticking by for Melbourne with the Scorchers bowlers frugal through the middle overs.
The Stars hopes rested with Larkin following Maddinson's dismissal for 18 to Jhye Richardson, the New South Welshman hitting 70 to give his side a fighting chance.
He fell trying to ramp AJ Tye over the fine leg boundary in the 18th over, losing his stumps to end a fine hand that included nine fours and one six.
Some late hitting from Hilton Cartwright not quite enough as the Scorchers held on for an 11 run victory, the Stars only able to post 6-171.
Tye was the pick of the bowlers with 2-28 from his four overs, the visitors will all four points from the match to move top of the table with one more match to play against the Brisbane Heat on Tuesday.
The Stars must now beat second placed Sydney Sixers and hope other results fall their way to qualify, with just two days remaining in the home and away season.
IMAGE: Cricket Australia.