Melbourne Stars beat Hobart Hurricanes to secure BBL finals place
The Melbourne Stars have completed a miracle run to the BBL finals after toppling the ladder leading Hobart Hurricanes behind more Glenn Maxwell brilliance.
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A brutal Glenn Maxwell ensured the Melbourne Stars completed their miraculous BBL14 turnaround with another clinical display on Sunday night.
Needing to win against the ladder-leading Hobart Hurricanes to qualify for finals, Maxwell blasted 76 not out from 32 balls to propel the once 0-5 Stars to a commanding 5-219.
After walking to the crease in the 11th over, Maxwell put on a game-shaping 70 off 30 balls with Test all-rounder Beau Webster.
Maxwell finished with five fours and six sixes but took a specific liking to Cameron Gannon in the 19th over, launching the quick over the rope three consecutive times.
Webster, meanwhile, was calculated at the beginning of his innings, complementing the aggression of Maxwell nicely.
But he replaced calculation with brute force during and after the Power Surge to finish with 51 off 31 deliveries.
Webster’s knock came amid speculation he will depart the Stars and return to the Hobart Hurricanes next season.
Opener Mitch Owen (38 off 18) and captain Nathan Ellis (40 off 22) were the only Hurricanes to fire a shot in reply to the Stars’ hefty total.
The in-form Stars now take on David Warner’s Sydney Thunder in their first finals campaign since BBL09.
The Hurricanes finished the regular season in first place on the ladder despite the 40-run defeat.
SENSATIONAL STEK
The Stars’ total was a lot safer as soon as Mark Steketee got the ball in his hands.
Steketee, who captured a five-for in his last start, took 3-8 from his two Powerplay overs.
He removed dangerous batters Caleb Jewell, Charlie Wakim and Ben McDermott all inside the first four overs.
It was a stark contrast to Steketee’s counterparts, Joel Paris and Peter Siddle, who were going at 17 and 21 an over at that point.
A SKIPPER’S SCREAMER
Marcus Stoinis pulled off a stunning catch to secure the Stars’ first wicket of the second innings.
Stoinis was at full stretch running back towards the fence after Jewell skied a shot down the ground.
It was a timely catch from the skipper as the Hurricanes had motored to 0-22 off just eight legal deliveries.
The Stars took another wicket courtesy of Steketee just two balls after the Stoinis screamer.
SLOPPY CANES
The Hurricanes gifted the Stars important runs in the first innings with some untidy efforts in the field.
Two regulation ground balls beat fielders to go for four while another misfield allowed Webster and Stoinis to turn a single into an easy two.
Their efforts were noticed by the Stars faithful soon after, with Hurricanes bowler Chris Jordan receiving a cheer for fielding a ball at long on.
To add to the misfields, the Hurricanes also bowled 12 wides.
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Originally published as Melbourne Stars beat Hobart Hurricanes to secure BBL finals place
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