Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Stars Prediction & Match Preview – BBL 39th Match
Match summary
Perth Scorchers host Melbourne Stars at Perth Stadium on 17 January 2026. Form, key players, pitch, weather and expected scores in our BBL preview.
Match details
| Match | Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Stars, 39th Match |
|---|---|
| Series | Big Bash League 2025-26 |
| Date | 17 Jan 2026 |
| Start time | 9:15 am GMT / 5:15 pm local |
| Venue | Perth Stadium, Perth |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | Perth Scorchers |
| Toss pick | Perth Scorchers |
Matches in this series
Match preview
Two sides already well placed for the BBL 2025-26 finals meet at Perth Stadium on Saturday 17 January, when Perth Scorchers play Melbourne Stars in the 39th match.
The Scorchers have won six of nine league games and secured their place in the next round. Finn Allen has been their star with 312 runs in eight matches, including a century in the 50-run win over Melbourne Renegades in which Perth scored 219. Aaron Hardie has been helpful with both bat and ball. The bowling has been vulnerable at times, but Cooper Connolly and Joel Paris lead it with 11 wickets each, and Connolly and Mahli Beardman shared in restricting the Renegades to 169.
The Stars won their first four games and became the first team to reach the playoffs. They beat Adelaide Strikers by six wickets after bowling them out for 83, with Tom Curran taking 4 for 10. Sam Harper has scored 365 runs, and captain Marcus Stoinis has passed 200. Peter Siddle, Curran, Haris Rauf and Stoinis are among the competition’s leading wicket-takers. If the Stars keep that level up, they have a strong chance of a first BBL title.
Perth Stadium has a fast, bouncy T20 surface that can be tough for batters early. Seamers get movement and carry, which puts the top order under pressure in the powerplay. Once batters adjust, the true bounce and quick outfield make strokeplay easier. Spinners find little turn and rely on accuracy and variations, and the large boundaries give them some protection. Teams generally prefer to bat first and post a strong total.
Around 5:15 pm local time Perth should be warm and mostly dry at about 23–25 °C, with sunny to mostly clear skies. Rain is very unlikely, and the south-westerly breeze should be light to moderate.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 170–185 | – |
| Second innings | 165–180 | – |
Perth Scorchers
Finn Allen’s form and home conditions at Perth Stadium tilt a close contest towards the Scorchers.
Toss pick: Perth Scorchers
FAQ
Have Perth Scorchers qualified for the next round?
Yes. They have won six of their nine league matches and already secured a place in the next round.
Who is the leading run-scorer for Melbourne Stars?
Sam Harper, who has 365 runs in nine matches at an average of 73 and a strike rate of 156, and leads the tournament run charts.
How did the Scorchers perform in their last match?
They beat Melbourne Renegades by 50 runs after posting 219, with Finn Allen hitting a century.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
Perth Scorchers
- Mitchell Marsh
- Finn Allen
- Cooper Connolly
- Aaron Hardie
- Ashton Turnerc
- Laurie Evanswk
- Nick Hobson
- Jhye Richardson
- Luke Holt
- David Payne
- Mahli Beardman
Melbourne Stars
- Sam Harperwk
- Thomas Fraser Rogers
- Campbell Kellaway
- Blake Macdonald
- Marcus Stoinisc
- Glenn Maxwell
- Hilton Cartwright
- Tom Curran
- Mitchell Swepson
- Haris Rauf
- Peter Siddle