Melbourne Stars produced a professional display to beat the Hobart Hurricanes in the semi-finals of the Big Bash in Hobart.
The game was marred by a nasty shoulder injury incurred by Hurricanes stalwart George Bailey who could barely stand such was the level of pain he was in after landing on his shoulder when making a diving stop on the boundary.
Bailey had the be helped from the field and his injury compounded a bitterly disappointing night for the Hurricanes whose wait for a first Big Bash title goes on having lost in the final 12 months ago.
Following a season that had seen the boys in purple top the group stages with some outstanding cricket, the Hurricanes' vaunted batting line-up failed to fire as they were reduced to 5-2 inside two overs.
D'arcy Short made 35 from 21 balls and briefly looked like wrestling back the early initiative for the hosts but when he holed out just before the close of the powerplay, Ben McDermott and Bailey were left with the job of repairing the damage.
The pair played really well in their partnership of 75 before Bailey fell for 37, the late assault never able to materialise as Daniel Worrall returned figures of 4-0-23-4 in a terrific spell of death bowling.
McDermott fought his way to 53 but the Hurricanes could only finish on a below-par 153-7.
In reply, the Stars lost Ben Dunk early but despite enjoying a couple of huge slices of good fortune, Peter Handscomb added some early impetus to the innings as he made 35 from 26 balls.
He eventually became Qais Ahmad's third victim of the night as the leg-spinner threatened to turn the match on its head with an incisive spell that included a beautiful delivery to bowl the in-form Marcus Stoinis for 18.
However, the Hurricanes were always on the back foot with too few runs to play with and Glenn Maxwell (43) and Seb Gotch (33) combined for a mature and unbroken partnership of 72 that took their side to victory with seven balls to spare.
The Stars with play either the Sydney Sixers or Melbourne Renegades in the final on February 17.
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