Sydney Thunder 135 for 7 (Davies 36, Gilkes 28, Curran 2-26, Mir 2-26) beat Melbourne Stars 114 (Maxwell 28, McAndrew 5-16, Andrews 2-20) by 21 runs (DLS methodology)
Melbourne Stars had excessive hopes of chasing 136 in 19 overs, however misplaced common wickets together with Maxwell for 28 off 21 balls. McAndrew began the injury with an excellent new ball spell and completed with 5 for 16 on a spin-friendly pitch.
The match was lowered to 19 overs per aspect attributable to lightning early in Thunder’s innings, which led to a short delay.
Thunder will play crosstown rivals Sydney Sixers on the SCG in Friday’s Challenger with the winner to satisfy Hobart Hurricanes within the ultimate.
It was a disappointment for Stars, who have been driving a five-game win streak however their title drought extends by one other season.
McAndrew, spinners crush Stars
Thunder have been beneath strain defending what appeared a under par whole. They wanted early wickets and McAndrew delivered by dismissing openers Sam Harper and Thomas Rogers.
The match boiled all the way down to how their spinners would fare in opposition to Maxwell and Stars skipper Marcus Stoinis. Offspinner Chris Inexperienced stepped up and lured Stoinis right into a mishit on the legside, the place George Garton claimed an excellent catch diving ahead at deep midwicket.
After copping early punishment, Sangha produced the important thing wicket of Maxwell, who tried to work it to the legside however bought a top-edge and the bowler held on with glee.
Sangha was on a hat-trick when he dismissed Tom Curran first ball earlier than McAndrew claimed late wickets to make sure Thunder prevented any late nerves. After main beautifully and making all the fitting strikes within the area, skipper David Warner fittingly took the ultimate catch to set off jubilation for Thunder’s gamers and followers.
Maxwell shines briefly after top-order collapse
It at all times felt that the match could be determined a method or one other by Maxwell. He was on the crease inside 5 overs after Stars’ top-order struggles continued as they crashed to 27 for 3.
In his season debut, as a late substitute for Beau Webster, veteran Peter Handscomb had a troublesome initiation. Having missed out on the Take a look at tour of Sri Lanka, Handscomb was eager to showcase his prowess at dealing with spin however by no means appeared snug and on 11 he was trapped lbw by left-arm spinner Tom Andrews.
In got here Maxwell on the again of a purple patch the place he nearly single-handedly lifted Stars into an unlikely finals berth. Whereas different batters had struggled mightily, Maxwell made it look simple with a hat-trick of boundaries off Andrews.
The primary two have been trademark reverse sweeps earlier than whacking a boundary by means of midwicket – the place a fielder had simply been moved from.
Maxwell then hit Sangha for a monstrous six over deep midwicket to race to 23 off 11 balls. However on this event Maxwell could not put the cape on and Stars fell aside with out their talisman regardless of some late hitting from Mark Steketee.
Warner falls early, Davies guides them at backend
However Warner’s first BBL ultimate ended rapidly when he fell for a second ball duck after he mistimed Curran to cowl.
He whacked Curran for six over deep sq. leg and his aggressiveness rubbed off on 20-year-old Hugh Weibgen, who unleashed a boundary off the again foot in his new function as opener.
Gilkes raced to 22 earlier than having success when he hit to cowl the place Curran caught it low to the turf. However third umpire Michael Graham-Smith gave it not out after replays recommended the ball touched the bottom.
Thunder struggled on resumption and have been strangled by Stars’ spinners in robust batting situations. Sam Billings had a cameo, however performed a dangerous technique, and it was left to Ollie Davies to make sure they batted the allotted overs.
Davies top-scored with 36 however frustratingly fell within the 18th over. Thunder did end off with some momentum after a final ball six from big-hitting Andrews.
Usama Mir struck together with his second ball•Getty Photos
Stars spinners relish beneficial situations
Stars’ quicks struggled within the powerplay, together with veteran fast Steketee who was a revelation within the backend of the common season to assist carry Stars into the finals.
As quickly because the powerplay ended, Stoinis had no hesitation in giving the ball to legspinner Usama Mir. He delivered nearly instantly with a nicely flighted supply that held up within the floor and deceived Weibgen, who spooned a return catch.
It was the fourth time this event that Usama claimed a caught and bowled as he continued to spin the ball sharply off the floor. He concentrated nearly totally on legbreaks as an intriguing battle emerged with Billings, who tried to interrupt the stranglehold by reverse sweeping.
Usama had Gilkes holing out to a fired-up Maxwell, who instructed close by followers to quieten down as Stars took management within the center overs. Left-arm spinner Doug Warren, taking part in simply his third match of the season and first since Boxing Day, bowled fast darts on the stumps and was unfortunate to not have Billings stumped after a fumble with the gloves from Harper.
He was lastly rewarded with the important thing wicket of Billings within the twelfth over as Stars’ seamers returned within the backend and centered on taking the tempo off the ball to make sure Thunder by no means flourished on the backend.
Tristan Lavalette is a journalist primarily based in Perth
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