Glenn Maxwell guides Melbourne Stars to win over Hobart Hurricanes in BBL|13

Not even the rain and a DLS run chase could stop superstar Glenn Maxwell from guiding the Melbourne Stars to a win over Hobart Hurricanes on Thursday night.

HOBART, AUSTRALIA – DECEMBER 28: Glenn Maxwell of the Stars celebrates the wicket of Sam Hain of the Hurricanes during the BBL match between Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Stars at Blundstone Arena, on December 28, 2023, in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

It was a game that had everything but the one constant throughout was the class of Glenn Maxwell.

While it may not have matched the lofty heights of his double-century World Cup heroics, Maxwell’s showing for the Melbourne Stars with both bat and ball against the Hobart Hurricanes on Thursday night was another matchwinning performance.

HOBART, AUSTRALIA – DECEMBER 28: Glenn Maxwell of the Stars batting during the BBL match between Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Stars at Blundstone Arena, on December 28, 2023, in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

With an innings-break rain delay reducing the Stars initial run chase of 156 to 67 runs from just seven overs, ‘The Big Show’ was the man of the moment in the seven-wicket win.

After losing fellow opener Sam Harper (0 off 1), Marcus Stonis (0 off 3) and Hilton Cartwright (2 off 3) in the first two overs, Maxwell resurrected the Stars chase with a 35-run unbeaten stand from just 18 balls.

He did it alongside Tom Rogers (21 off 14) which saw the in-form Beau Webster shuffled down the order and not required.

It followed a terrific spell with the ball from Maxwell, who claimed figures of 3-29.

The win, the Stars second of BBL|13, saw them jump into the top four and become the first side to defeat the Hurricanes at home since BBL|11.

HURRICANES HOWLER

Sent into bowl by the Stars, the visitors were humming following the early dismissal of the dangerous Matthew Wade (1 off 3).

That left fellow opener Caleb Jewell (45 off 37) and Mac Wright (33 off 19) to kickstart Hobart’s innings.

The pair combined for 37 runs before Stars skipper Glen Maxwell once again swung the game back in Melbourne’s favour.

Maxwell (3-29) alongside Haris Rauf (3-24) were the best of the Stars bowlers while Nikhil Chaudhary (32 off 16) continued to show he could be the find of the tournament.

HOBART, AUSTRALIA – DECEMBER 28: Sam Hain of the Hurricanes leaves the field after being dismissed during the BBL match between Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Stars at Blundstone Arena, on December 28, 2023, in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

HAPLESS HAIN

Recruited with the eye to stabilise a historically inconsistent Hurricanes middle-order, Englishman Sam Hain once again failed to fire against the Stars.

An 11-run stand ended after just 13 balls, with the Hong-Kong born big hitter now just totalling 28 runs in BBL|13.

Caught out of the bowling of Maxwell, Hain’s dismissal was the start of a Hobart downfall that saw them go 4-17 after the drinks break.

Originally published as Glenn Maxwell guides Melbourne Stars to win over Hobart Hurricanes in BBL|13