The Melbourne Stars’ unbeaten run to start BBL|15 continued with a fourth straight win on Sunday night, after comprehensively beating the Sydney Thunder by nine wickets in Canberra.
It was overseas recruit Joe Clarke who put the icing on the cake for Marcus Stoinis’ side, blitzing a high-tempo knock of 60 off 37 balls that left the Manuka Oval crowd stunned.
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The 29-year-old blasted eight fours to go with a six, and was well supported by the in-form Sam Harper (29 not out) as the pair put on 86 for the opening wicket.
Glenn Maxwell (39*) helped finish the match in fast fashion, reverse sweeping several times amid his 20-ball knock that brought five fours and two sixes. The Stars won with six overs to spare, in a win that boosts their net run rate up to 1.779.
However, the match was in truth set up by the Stars’ potent bowling attack, which bowled magnificently against a lacklustre Thunder batting line-up.
MATCH CENTRE: Stars vs Thunder final scorecard, stats and more
Haris Rauf (3/29) and Stoinis (2/25) created a handful of opportunities despite several displays of poor fielding from teammates, while Tom Curran, Mitch Swepson and Peter Siddle tied down an end apiece to take five wickets between them.
Opener Matthew Gilkes (24 off 13 balls) was the only Sydney batter to look truly comfortable after being sent into bat by the Stars, as, remarkably, all of the Thunder’s top six registered starts between 10 and 25.
Cartwright & Rauf just miss disaster | 00:26
Additionally, the Thunder only managed seven fours all innings, with Gilkes hitting two of their four sixes.
“It’s been a strange batting innings (with) lots of starts for the Thunder. The top six all got between 10 and 25 … that doesn’t help, does it?” Australian great Mark Waugh said during Fox Cricket’s coverage.
The loss ends a five-match winning streak for the Thunder against the Stars, that dates back to December of 2022.
The Stars’ victory comes after an emphatic win over the Sydney Sixers on Boxing Day, which saw wicketkeeper Harper blitz his maiden Big Bash ton in rapid fashion.
Despite the Thunder having previously played home games at the Canberra venue, it was be the Stars who played hosts on Sunday for their annual ‘home’ game away from the MCG.
‘GUTSY’ KONSTAS NEARLY CAUSES FIRST-BALL CARNAGE
Sam Konstas was front and centre of tonight’s Big Bash game from ball one — literally.
The 20-year-old tucked off-spinner Glenn Maxwell to the leg side with the opening ball, and ambitiously came back for a second run after a slight hesitation.
In real time as Sam Billings took the bails from the throw in the deep, it looked like Konstas had run himself out.
The third umpire had the final say though, with replays showing that the right-hander had made his ground in between frames.
“It was a gutsy, gutsy run … but I think he’s gotten away with it. He could’ve dived!” former Australian quick Brendan Julian said on Fox Cricket.
“I don’t think there was two (runs) there, but he was quick.”
Australian wicketkeeping great Brad Haddin added: “I like the intent. I know that was a close call there, but I like the intent to put pressure straight away on the fielders of the Stars, and make a statement early.”
The five-Test young gun was eventually bowled by Mitch Swepson for 11 off 15 balls.
‘ONE OF THE BEST’: 41-YEAR-OLD STAR STILL GOING STRONG
There are very few 41-year-olds still playing professional cricket, but of those who are, Peter Siddle is the one setting the standard.
The 67-Test stalwart has been in spectacular form so far this Big Bash campaign, and his performance Sunday night was no exception.
Siddle, who has retired from first-class cricket, finished with figures of 1/22 from his four overs and was arguably deserving of at least one more scalp.
“I’m feeling good. There’s obviously a lot of pressure not playing first-class cricket, and then having to be ready for this,” Siddle told Fox Cricket during the innings break.
“It’s a great bowling unit to bowl with, we’ve got plenty of fire-power in there.”
The right-arm seamer wasn’t just putting balls in the right spot, but was also bowling with genuine pace behind him — highlighted by a 142km/h bouncer to Shadab Khan during the Sydney Thunder’s Power Surge.
“It’s amazing that he still has his pace … he’s still very fit, he rides a lot,” Haddin said during the first innings.
“I’m not sure he (Shadab) thought Peter Siddle still had that in him!”
Julian added: “Because he has a very front-on action, it allows him to get through the crease and keep his momentum going.”
“He’s still one of the best bowlers in the competition Peter Siddle, pound-for-pound — he bowls the hard overs,” Australian great Mark Waugh said.
Siddle’s tournament figures now read eight wickets at a measly average of just 12.25.
Melbourne Stars XI: Sam Harper (wk), Joe Clarke, Campbell Kellaway, Tom Rogers, Marcus Stoinis (c), Glenn Maxwell, Hilton Cartwright, Tom Curran, Mitch Swepson, Haris Rauf, Peter Siddle
Sydney Thunder XI: David Warner (c), Sam Konstas, Cameron Bancroft, Matthew Gilkes, Sam Billings (wk), Shadab Khan, Daniel Sams, Chris Green, Tanveer Sangha, Ryan Hadley, Reece Topley
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