The Perth Scorchers’ hopes of hosting a BBL final received a boost on Sunday after their history-making 32-run win over the Adelaide Strikers.

The Scorchers became the first team in BBL history to score four 200+ totals in a single season, after finishing 4-232 in an Adelaide Oval demolition that was led by Mitch Marsh (88 off 51 balls).

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And in reply, the Strikers fell short to finish 8-200.

Despite Matt Short (52 off 31) and Alex Carey (71 off 39) getting the home side’s chase off to the perfect start, the wheels fell off in a rush for the Strikers as they lost 6-14 in just 17 balls to leave their BBL finals hopes in near tatters.

Earlier, the Strikers were off to a “brutal” start as they conceded Perth’s second-best powerplay score in BBL history – and the night didn’t get any better from there at Adelaide Oval.

England duo Luke Wood (0-27 in two overs) and Jamie Overton (0-18 in one over) were sent to the rope repeatedly by Perth stars Mitch Marsh and Finn Allen in the first three overs.

When skipper Matt Short turned to spin, Hassan Ali copped the same treatment (0-22 in his first over) as Perth piled on a whopping 0-69 off their first four overs.

“This is brutal,” Adam Gilchrist said.

“This is looking really ugly for the Adelaide Strikers,” Mike Hussey added.

“They’ve bowled nothing like they should have been bowling

“This is poor bowling – a poor start for the Adelaide Strikers.”

With Perth’s predicted score at a whopping 345, England great Michael Vaughan couldn’t help but joke: “The Scorchers might get the chance to declare here tonight”.

Only Lloyd Pope’s introduction in the fifth over brought the Strikers back into the contest as he snared the wickets of Allen (38 off 16) and Cooper Connolly for a golden duck.

The returned Josh Inglis helped Marsh steady the ship before he fell for 42 off just 23 balls.

While for the Strikers, Wood’s night just went further south – as he conceded an Adelaide record worst spell of 0-58 off his four.

Marsh (88 off 51) would eventually depart, but the damage had been done.

Late hitting from Aaron Hardie and Ashton Turner ensured the visitors finished 4-232.

Their record tally comes off the back of 200+ scores posted against Brisbane, Hobart and the Sydney Thunder earlier this summer.

In reply, Carey and Short kept the Strikers in the chase as they reached 90 inside the eighth over.

But once both departed, Adelaide’s hopes went with them.

WAS THE RIGHT CALL MADE?

The Strikers opted to go without recruit Tabraiz Shamsi for the must-win clash with Perth on Sunday.

And they paid a heavy price.

Despite spin having plenty of success against the Scorchers when the two sides met earlier this month, Shamsi was left out as Adelaide opted to back in Lloyd Pope and Cameron Boyce.

And it ended up being the wrong call.

Luke Wood (0-58 off four) and Jamie Overton (0-30 off two) were sent to every part of the ground, while Hassan Ali finished with 0-52 off his four.

England great Michael Vaughan was perplexed by the decision not to play Shamsi on Sunday.

“It’s a dry deck – could they have gone with another spin option,” Vaughan questioned.

“Ashton Turner (the Perth captain) said he was surprised when he saw that squad without Shamsi in it,” Adam Gilchrist added.

“Where’s Shamsi,” Vaughan questioned.

“You go to the selection of the Strikers. No Shamsi, on a pitch like this. Where we’ve seen Lloyd Pope, Cameron Boyce have a bit of success – pace on it has travelled.”

“You’re exactly right Vaughany. Used pitch, not the right call,” Jason Gillespie said.

“The seamers just haven’t got their lines or length right.”

And in the end, without the right attack Adelaide coughed up 4-232 – a total too great to chase.

WHEN DOES TREND END?

On a night where Scorcher Ashton Turner made history as the first BBL captain to lose seven straight bat flips, Aussie great Jason Gillespie believes the Strikers missed an opportunity.

As has the trend been all summer, the team who wins the toss elected to bowl first.

But Adelaide were made to pay dearly.

Gillespie believes Matt Short made the wrong call in sending Perth in first.

“I just feel with a used pitch, runs on the board I know that the modern trend is to chase, but sometimes you’ve got to look at what the surface is in front of you and make decisions,” he said.

“I just thought it was a good toss to lose.”

Adam Gilchrist agreed the decision allowed Perth to then have an advantage in the field.

“The Scorchers quicks definitely sized up conditions a little bit more quicker than the Adelaide Strikers,” he said.

“They certainly learnt from the Adelaide Strikers,” Gillespie added.

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SQUADS

Adelaide Strikers: Hassan Ali, Cameron Boyce, Alex Carey, Mackenzie Harvey, Chris Lynn, Harry Manenti, Jamie Overton, Lloyd Pope, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Matt Short (c), Henry Thornton, Luke Wood

Perth Scorchers: Finn Allen, Mahli Beardman, Cooper Connolly, Brody Couch, Laurie Evans, Sam Fanning, Aaron Hardie, Nick Hobson, Luke Holt, Josh Inglis, Mitch Marsh, David Payne, Jhye Richardson, Ashton Turner (c)