A spectacular individual showing from captain Marcus Stoinis has ensured the Melbourne Stars have got their 2025-26 campaign off to a bright start with a crushing eight-wicket victory over reigning champions Hobart at the MCG on Thursday night.
Stoinis won the toss and chose to bowl, and it proved to be the right call as the visitors were restricted to 9-158 after losing 6-39 in the last five overs, including 4-1 in 11 balls.
In response, the Stars had few issues, chasing down the target of 159 with four overs to spare, and for the loss of just two wickets, to cruise home.
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MATCH CENTRE: Stars vs Hurricanes, scorecard, live updates, stats
Fittingly, Stoinis smashed the winning runs with a towering six off Chris Jordan which went 15 rows back over long on.
It capped off a stellar knock from Stoinis who cracked an unbeaten 62 off just 31 deliveries, including seven fours and two sixes.
He also took an economical 2-18 from three overs, including the prized wicket of Ben McDermott who top-scored for the Hurricanes with 69 off 52.
Stoinis combined with Campbell Kellaway (41 not out off 27) for an unbeaten 101-run third-wicket stand to ensure a comfortable win.
Evergreen Stars paceman Peter Siddle, who turned 41 last month, also played a crucial role (3-30 from four), while Haris Rauf (2-33 from four) found himself on a hat-trick in the 19th over.
Hobart got off to a horrible start, losing two wickets in the first seven balls and slumping to 3-36 in the sixth over, but McDermott and Tim David (31 off 31) managed to steady the ship somewhat, combining for an 83-run fourth-wicket partnership off 61 balls.
However, the pair went 26 balls combined without a boundary, and the Stars were able to contain the explosive David, in particular, who took 23 balls to find the rope for the first time after being 12 off 17 at one stage.
“Phew says Cartwright!!” | 01:32
LACK OF RESPECT
A bunch of inconsiderate and insensitive supporters decided to bang their drums loudly throughout the pre-match minute’s silence for the victims of the Bondi Beach terrorist attack in what was a disgraceful show of disrespect.
STOINIS STATEMENT
The Stars’ 10th over proved to be the game changer, yielding 19 runs – 14 of which coming off the final three deliveries, courtesy of Stoinis who whacked Rishad Hossain (2-33 from three) for a pair of fours and a massive six that went 10 rows back over long off.
INSTANT REDEMPTION
Hilton Cartwright’s heart would have sunk three balls into the match when he dropped a sitter at deep mid-wicket which would’ve dismissed Mitchell Owen going for back-to-back sixes. But fortunately for Cartwright, he didn’t have to wait long to redeem himself. The very next delivery, Owen went the aerial route again, and failed to get enough purchase on the Glenn Maxwell ball. This time Cartwright was up to the task, running in from deep mid-wicket to snaffle it and send the dangerous Hobart opener packing.
CLASSIC CATCHES
The final over of the Hobart innings produced a pair of magnificent grabs. Firstly, after Matthew Wade smashed Siddle down to long on, Maxwell took the ball while jumping over the rope, but intelligently threw it back in the air and completed the catch in the field of play. Four balls later, Riley Meredith attempted to pull Siddle, but all he could do was nick it to wicketkeeper Sam Harper who jumped up and took a one-handed screamer at full extension.
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