Match 14, Sydney, December 26, 2023, 12:35 PM
Sydney Sixers
154/8(20.0ov)
Melbourne Stars
155/6(19.3ov)
Melbourne Stars beat Sydney Sixers by 4 wickets
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Man of the Match
Hilton Cartwright
Commentry
Right then, that's all from this game. Melbourne Stars got their first win of the season and by doing so, they handed the Sydney Sixers their first defeat. It is a double-header day in the 2023-24 Big Bash League and the second game of the day between Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Renegades is already underway. You can switch tabs and join us for all the action there. See you there, cheers!
Hilton Cartwright is the Player of the Match for his match-winning unbeaten knock of 47 runs from 30 balls.
Time for the presentation ceremony...
Earlier in the game, after being inserted into bat, Sydney Sixers were off to a shaky start. Josh Philippe got another quick start but failed to convert and after his departure, the Sixers began to lose wickets in a clump. At 45-4, James Vince and Jack Edwards got together to steady the ship. Vince took his time before switching gears and once he did, there was no stopping him. Edwards played his part too in putting the Sixers' innings on track. After Vince got out on 83, Melbourne Stars clawed their way back into the game and finished strongly to keep Sixers to 154. Usama Mir was the pick of the bowlers for the Stars with figures of 3 for 19 from his four overs.
Sydney Sixers gave it their all while defending a competitive total but their efforts were just not enough on the day. The Sixers' bowlers were put under early pressure by Thomas Rogers but they were able to see the back of him thanks to a screamer from Moises Henriques. Sean Abbott, Jack Edwards and Steve O'Keefe got together to make life difficult for the Stars in the middle phase. However, they were unable to deny the singles during that phase which meant that the Stars were never under scoreboard pressure. The Sixers did manage to get rid of Beau Webster during the Power Surge but Imad Wasim kept the momentum going for the Stars. Ben Dwarshuis had 7 run to defend in the final over which was always going to be a tough task and in the end, the Sixers ended up on the losing side.
Melbourne Stars are finally off the mark in the 2023-24 Big Bash League! Hilton Cartwright has done it for the Stars and with this win, they lift themselves off the bottom of the standings. In pursuit of 155, Tom Rogers got off the blocks quickly and got the Stars off to a breezy start. However, his stay was cut short by a blinder of a catch by Moises Henriques. Like the Sixers, the Stars too lost wickets in the middle phase and lost their way in the chase. Beau Webster and Hilton Cartwright then took the mantle and batted sensibly to take the game deep. Cartwright pressed on the accelerator as did Webster before perishing in the Power Surge. Imad Wasim stuck a few lusty blows as well before Hilton Cartwright held his nerves to take the Stars over the line in the final over.
In over# 20
4
4
0
Ben Dwarshuis 26/0(3.3)
19.3
4
FOUR! Its all over, the Melbourne Stars pick up their first win of the season and its Hilton Cartwright to hit the winning runs for his side. Slower ball, on top of the off stump line and Hilton Cartwright waits on it and pulls it away over short fine leg for a boundary to finish off the chase.
19.2
4
FOUR! That's the boundary Melbourne Stars were looking for. 4 from 4 required now. Full toss outside the off stump line. Hilton Cartwright launches at it and carves it beating point for a superb boundary.
19.1
.
Swing and a miss! Full toss outside the off stump line, missed by the batter. Dot ball to start the over.
In over# 19
1
2
1
0W
2
4
Sean Abbott 32/2(4)
18.6
1
Pitched up on the stumps. Hilton Cartwright drives the ball to long on and runs a single. 8 needed of the last over now.
18.5
2
Pitched up on the stumps, full, with pace. Hilton Cartwright flicks the ball between long on and deep mid-wicket for a couple. Good fielding in the deep to keep it down to two runs.
18.4
1
Hits the good length on the off stump line. Jonathan Merlo taps the ball to point and runs a single.
18.3
W
OUT! CAUGHT! There is another twist in this game! Its Imad Wasim to walk back. Pitched up, slow on the off stump and Imad Wasim looks to go over mid off again but this time mistimes it high for the mid off to complete the catch. The match hanging in the balance.
18.2
2
Pitched up outside the off stump. Imad Wasim lofts the ball over mid off and runs another couple. Melbourne Stars need 12 off 10 now.
18.1
4
FOUR! What a shot to start the pressure over. Boundary by Imad Wasim. Short ball at the batter and Imad Wasim pulls it over mid-wicket for a boundary off the first ball of the over.
In over# 18
1
2
4
0
0
0
Jackson Bird 42/2(4)
17.6
1
CHANCE MISSED! Full toss again on the stumps and Imad Wasim hits it straight towards mid-wicket and runs a risky single. The fielder picks up the ball and looks to hit on the bowler's end but misses the wickets. Imad Wasim was out by a long way if the ball hit the stumps.