The Melbourne Stars face a battle to secure their spot in the BBL finals after being restricted to 9-146 against the Perth Scorchers at the WACA.
The Stars never got going after slumping to 4-55 in the eighth over, despite the best efforts of David Hussey (36 off 25 balls) and Evan Gulbis (25no).
Scorchers paceman Andrew Tye continued his hot form to finish with 2-25 from four overs, while Englishman David Willey (1-23) was also important.
Matt Dixon (3-32) was expensive early but managed to pick up regular wickets.
The Thunder's win over the Sixers earlier on Saturday night means the Stars need to beat the Scorchers to guarantee a spot in the finals.
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A loss - and a Melbourne Renegades win over Adelaide at Etihad Stadium on Monday night - would knock the Stars out of a berth.
Stars import Kevin Pietersen made just eight after being caught behind off the bowling of Dixon.
But Pietersen was adamant he hadn't hit it, shaking his head before standing his ground momentarily.
The Stars were lucky to get to 146.
Gulbis would have been out for 1 had Dixon held onto the simplest of catches at short third man in the 15th over.
And Gulbis was dropped next ball when Michael Carberry couldn't hold a one-handed screamer on the boundary.
Instead of being 7-101, the dropped chances gave the Stars the chance to add vital runs at the death.
And Gulbis did exactly that, combining with Daniel Worrall for a vital 27-run, ninth-wicket stand.
