Handscomb celebrates after scoring his maiden Twenty20 century

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Melbourne Stars batsman Peter Handscomb hammered a magnificent century to help his side burn the Perth Scorchers by three wickets.

However, Scorchers openers Shaun Marsh and Michael Klinger deserve a lot of credit as they made 79 and 71 respectively.

Scorchers captain Adam Voges would have been delighted with his decision to bat first as Marsh and Klinger amassed a 127-run partnership, during which Marsh brought up his half-century, before he was caught by Stars skipper Cameron White at midwicket off the bowling of Michael Beer.

Marsh’s brilliant knock of 79 came off 51 balls and included eight boundaries and three sixes.

Marsh made a gutsy 79

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Klinger and Voges kept the runs flowing with a 52-run partnership, during which Klinger registered his half-century, before he was run out by Jackson Bird off the last ball of the innings.

Klinger’s excellent knock of 71 came off 48 deliveries and included five boundaries and two sixes.

Klinger scored a valiant 71

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Thanks to Marsh and Klinger, the Scorchers finished on 179/2 off their 20 overs.

Beer was the only bowler to take a wicket.

Chasing 180 to win, the Stars got off to a horrible start as Luke Wright, Kevin Pietersen and White were all dismissed in quick succession.

With the Stars struggling at 28/3, Handscomb and Rob Quiney stabilised the innings with a 60-run partnership before Quiney was caught by Klinger at deep midwicket off the bowling of Brad Hogg for 19.

Tom Triffitt only made four runs before he was caught by Voges at mid-off off the bowling of Yasir Arafat.

John Hastings made a quickfire 20 before he was caught behind off the bowling of Ashton Agar.

Clint McKay mustered 12 runs before he was caught by Ashton Turner at long-on off the bowling of Arafat.

Despite losing teammates at regular intervals, Handscomb kept his cool and brought up his century to lead the Stars to a brilliant come-from-behind win.

Handscomb ended up scoring 103 off 64 balls, which included six boundaries and five sixes.

Arafat was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Hogg, Agar and Andrew Tye claimed one wicket each.

Handscomb was named Man of the Match for his spectacular century.