A pitch invader joins the Scorchers to celebrate defeating the Stars during the Big Bash League Semi Final match at the WACA. Source: Getty Images

The Scorchers handed the Melbourne Stars a fourth successive semi-final exit pass with an 18-run win at the WACA Ground.

Andrew Tye went from villain to hero for the Scorchers.

He faced the final over of the home team’s innings and didn’t come close to laying bat on ball to six straight slower balls from Clint McKay. But he made up for it, taking 4-18 with the ball to lead his team home.

The Scorchers struggled in their innings batting first, making 7-144 from 20 overs on the back of 50 from Michael Carberry, 35 from Shaun Marsh and a late 22 from nine balls from Nathan Coulter-Nile.

The Stars’ bowling did well limiting their chase to 145 and were led by John Hastings (3-27) and 2-25 from Michael Beer.

However, the Scorchers have contested the past three BBL finals and won last year’s title based on their terrific defensive bowling. They dismissed the Stars for 126 to book a spot in Wednesday’s final in Canberra against the Sydney Sixers.

The Stars’ openers Cameron White and Luke Wright survived the early barrage from Coulter-Nile, playing his first game since injuring a hamstring on November 21 last year, and Jason Behrendorff. But White struggled and eventually fell for 13 (24) in the seventh over.

The visitors continued to make steady progress through English pair Wright and Kevin Pietersen but the fall of Wright for 31 (25) in the 11th over from Tye started a procession. The Stars’ chances of winning disappeared after Pietersen’s dismissal and they were bowled out in the final over.

AAP