‘All-time great’ snare not enough for Stars as Strikers gun overcomes nightmare outing

A stunning catch by Ben Duckett wasn’t enough to inspire Melbourne Stars to a drought-breaking win, as Adelaide clinched a 15-run victory. WATCH THE CATCH, FULL HIGHLIGHTS

A stunning catch by Ben Duckett wasn’t enough to inspire the Melbourne Stars to a drought-breaking victory, a gutsy bowling effort from Lloyd Pope propelling the Adelaide Strikers to a 15-run win on Friday night.

Chasing a target of 166 at Adelaide Oval, the struggling Stars lost 4-40 during a telling period of the match and needed 41 runs to win from the last three overs, which proved a bridge too far.

Pope was taken down for 31 runs in a game-turning 19th over in the Strikers’ loss to the Sydney Thunder, but the leg-spinner showed great character to bounce back with figures of 3-21 from his four overs, including the wicket of Stars top-scorer Sam Harper.

The result kept the struggling Stars winless after three games this season, extending their run of losses including last season to six, while the Strikers evened their record at a win and a loss.

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DUCKETT DAZZLES

Duckett only arrived in the country the day before the game following the conclusion of England’s Test tour of New Zealand, and marked his Stars debut with one of the best catches in BBL history to remove Strikers top-scorer D’Arcy Short.

Looking to close out the home side’s innings strongly, Short latched onto a Peter Siddle delivery in the 15th over only to see Duckett leap full stretch at cover and pluck the full-blooded drive with his right hand just as it looked to have gone past him.

Duckett wasn’t able to follow up his heroics in the field, falling LBW to Matt Short for a golden duck in the first over.

Marcus Stoinis got the run chase moving in the right direction, but was unable to go on with the job, wickets falling steadily after he was out for 27.

Jamie Overton celebrates a wicket with his Strikers teammates. Picture: Getty Images

LYNN A LATE OUT

The home side suffered a blow with the withdrawal of power hitter Chris Lynn with calf soreness and made three changes to the line-up that went down to Sydney Thunder in the season-opener, with Ollie Pope, Liam Scott and D’Arcy Short coming in.

Lynn, 34, is hopeful of returning against his old side in Sunday’s clash against the Heat in Brisbane.

“It’s alright, I’ve had a scan, and I don’t think there’s too much damage,” Lynn told Fox Cricket.

“It was more of a precautionary thing.

“I think the fact that it was the second game in and it was a bit sore, so you don’t want to do anything worse.”

Marcus Stoinis hits out for the Stars. Picture: Getty Images

The visitors regained their own power hitter with Glenn Maxwell back after missing the Stars’ opening losses to the Heat and Perth Scorchers with a hamstring injury.

Maxwell was in the action early after the Stars won the bat flip and sent Adelaide in, the star all-rounder removing opener Jake Weatherald cheaply in the sixth over.

With the bat, Maxwell targeted the short boundary as few others can, the master stroke maker launching the second and third balls he faced for reverse-sweep sixes.

SHORT ‘N SHARP

Reigning BBL MVP Matt Short blasted a towering six over the deep square boundary in the first over, but departed on 11 two overs later.

That brought namesake D’Arcy Short, replacing Lynn at No.3, to the crease and he made the most of his late inclusion.

Coach Tim Paine revealed Short wasn’t in the line-up the morning of the game, but he slotted in superbly, racing to his 23rd BBL half-century from 33 balls.

There was a touch of fortune about back-to-back boundaries off the inside edge early, but took full advantage, belting eight fours and a six to help the Strikers to 2-85 from 10 overs.