The day after he was made enemy No.1 by the Stars, Paine delivered a match-winning 65 from 52 balls as Hobart chased down their target of 142 with seven wickets and 11 balls to spare – the Stars' only loss of the campaign.
The Hurricanes will meet the winner of Wednesday's SCG clash between Sydney Sixers and Perth Scorchers in Friday's Big Bash decider.
It's the third summer in a row the Stars have choked in the semi-finals, meaning they again miss out on the lucrative Champions League tournament in India.
It was a shocking night for the previously undefeated Stars. The attendance was an underwhelming 12,506 – far less than the Stars' regular season matches.
And, the sourest face in the crowd had to be Stars president Eddie McGuire, who had viciously taken aim at Paine's explosive accusation the Stars were salary cap cheats in the build up to the match.
Eddie claps Tim Paine's 50 with the same enthusiasm of a man applauding his proctologist. pic.twitter.com/QEYVIyqfxf
— Peter Lalor (@plalor) February 4, 2014But with opener Paine a driving force behind Hobart's win, McGuire had not looked as miserable at the MCG since Collingwood's AFL grand final losses under his presidency in the early 2000s.
The home side won the toss and elected to bat first but a disciplined bowling performance from the underdog Hurricanes nullified their firepower.
The Stars only had veteran Brad Hodge to thank for posting a respectable total, with the 39-year-old crafting 51 off 35 balls, including two sixes.
But the talking point from the Stars innings was the brilliant three-over spell from Hobart leg spinner Cameron Boyce.
The 24-year-old – named man of the match - captured a career-best 3-11 off three overs, with Luke Wright (13 from 18 balls), Glenn Maxwell (12 from nine) and David Hussey (24 off 22) his victims.
To me, Boyce and Muirhead have almost identical bowling actions..similar trajectories..who will rise ?..whoever has the more tricks !!
— Kerry O'Keeffe (@kokeeffe49) February 4, 2014Along with Boyce, offspinner Shoaib Malik (1-5 off two overs) also troubled the Stars' batsmen were looked appeared panicky from ball one.
Ben Laughlin (2-34) also grabbed wickets, dismissing John Hastings (eight) and James Muirhead (six) in the final over.
The Stars were badly let down by international star Maxwell whose innings characteristically featured a fancy six early but ended the very next over.
Opener Matthew Wade, caught in the deep for eight, continued his misfiring campaign and his downfall in the sixth over triggered the costly top order collapse.
The Stars were also inferior with the ball.
Sri Lankan slinger Lasith Malinga (0-33) lacked his usual zip, although credit must go to the Hurricanes batsmen who blunted his threat with calculated aggression.
Oddly, Stars captain Cameron White opted not to employ his plucky but often effective spinners Maxwell, Hussey and Hodge.
Ben Dunk (30 from 20) and George Bailey ( 32 from 26) were other contributors for the Hurricanes.
Glenn Maxwell smashed a six early but managed just 12 runs from nine balls. Photo: Robert Prezioso (Getty)