Match 44, Melbourne, January 10, 2022, 01:45 PM
Adelaide Strikers
139/9(20.0ov)
Melbourne Stars
140/5(19.1ov)
Melbourne Stars beat Adelaide Strikers by 5 wickets
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Man of the Match
Joe Clarke
Commentry
Right then! That is it from the coverage of this game! But we have another double-header coming up on Tuesday, 11th January 2022. The first game of the day will be played between Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Stars which will begin at 8.40 am IST (3.10 am GMT). The second clash of the day sees a tussle between Melbourne Renegades and Sydney Sixers. This game will begin at 1.45 pm IST (8.15 am GMT). We look forward to your company for this double-header and make sure you tune in early for the buildup. Till then, goodbye and take care!
Joe Clarke is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH! He says that he enjoyed the knock and wanted the team to win. Tells that he just had 10 minutes in the nets the day before and they are playing a game tomorrow as well. Mentions that it was nice to contribute and get those crucial points. Says that they watched the Melbourne derby from their rooms due to Covid and they wanted to get back on the field.
A great win for Melbourne Stars! They would be mighty pleased with their performance here. They started off brilliantly, as the spin trio restricted the Strikers for just under 140. After losing quick wickets at the start, it was only Joe Clarke who rebuilt the innings, kept his cool, and guided them home. It was not an easy task though. Qais Ahmad came in and finished things off in style. Melbourne Stars have sealed the deal here and managed to grab four points.
Adelaide Strikers put on a great battle but just could not get over the line. A phenomenal bowling performance throughout the innings, but Joe Clarke just stole the show. It was the spinners in the second innings as well, who added the pressure on the batting side. Rashid Khan was the pick of the bowlers, who gave away just 16 runs and picked one wicket. Peter Siddle was excellent too, he grabbed two wickets and leaked just 26 runs in his spell. But it was Conway's final over in which he gave away 14 runs and that changed the momentum of the game.
A low-scoring thriller! A game that was filled with twists and turns, and a game that could have gone either way till the end. It was Joe Clarke who kept his calm and helped Melbourne Stars win this game. They have grabbed 4 vital points and have moved above Adelaide Strikers in the points table.
In over# 20
1wd
6
Matthew Short 27/0(3.1)
19.2
1wd
WIDE! It's done! Bizarre end to the game! Short tries to fire one at the pads but Qais Ahmad just moves out of the way. The ball is down the leg side and a wide is called. Melbourne Stars win the contest by 5 wickets!
19.1
6
SIX! Bang! Where did that come from? Flatter delivery, angled across the off stump. Qais Ahmad channelizes his inner Rashid Khan and swats it hard. The ball clears the cow corner fence and what a hit that is! Scores level now.
Matthew Short to bowl the last over of the innings. Will he take the Strikers home?
In over# 19
0
0W
6
0
1nb
2
1
Peter Siddle 26/2(4)
18.6
.
A slower ball, on a length, around off. Beau Webster pushes it to the left of the bowler and it is a DOT BALL! 7 runs needed off the last over now!
Qais Ahmad is the new man in.
18.5
W
OUT! TAKEN! Peter Siddle has the last laugh and is there a late twist in this match? After getting pumped for a maximum on the previous delivery, Siddle yet again looks for the yorker. He misses it yet again but this time there's not much pace on the ball. Joe Clarke looks to get the scores level as he looks to lift it over the long on fence. He gets the elevation but not the distance. Thomas Kelly composes himself at the long on fence and takes a good catch. 7 required off 7 now!
18.4
6
SIX! That should be the game! Siddle looks for the toe-crushing yorker but misses his mark. Joe Clarke thumps it right back over the bowler's head and clears the long on fence. 7 needed now off 8 deliveries.
18.3
.
Joe Clarke swings too hard at that one! Siddle holds his nerve and delivers an off-pace deliver, very full and sliding into leg stump. Clarke makes room and looks to swing across the line but misses.
18.3
1nb
NO BALL! Huge drama out there in the middle! Peter Siddle delivers a high full toss, angling into leg stump. Joe Clarke backs away but mistimes his shot towards mid off. The fielder over there dives forward and takes the catch. Clarke however, is confident that it is above waist height. The third umpire is called in and it's literally centimeters in it. The third umpire does call it a no ball and Siddle is absolutely furious with the decision. Free-hit to follow.
Is that a no ball? The on-field umpires have sent it upstairs to check whether it was above the waist of the batter. Replays roll in and it looks pretty close. The TV umpire feels that it was above the waist of the batter and Clarke survives.
18.2
2
Banged in short, around off. Joe Clarke walks down the pitch and pulls it wide of long on. They race back for the second.
18.1
1
Pitched up, on off. Webster drills it down to long off for a single.