Big Bash League: Marcus Stoinis lifts Melbourne Stars to win over Sydney Thunder

Marcus Stoinis gave the Melbourne Stars a strong start with a half-century before they beat Sydney Thunder by 22 runs.

Marcus Stoinis, right, and Glenn Maxwell of the Melbourne Stars run between wickets during the Big Bash League match against Sydney Thunder at Manuka Oval, on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

The Melbourne Stars beat the Sydney Thunder by 22 runs in their second game in two nights at Manuka Oval in Canberra on Saturday.

Marcus Stoinis got the Stars off to a strong start with a rapid half-century that proved key to a total of 8-169.

The Thunder were held to 9-147 in reply.

In the final over, Nick Larkin was facing Thunder quick Daniel Sams when a ball somehow ended up lodged in Larkin’s shirt. Both Stars batsmen had no idea where the ball had gone and completed a run – with the ball dislodging itself and falling onto the pitch.

With both sides laughing at the bizarre incident, the umpire ruled the ball dead and negated the run, putting Larkin back on strike.

The very next ball, he was bowled by a superb yorker from Sams, departing 15 off 14.

Stoinis light up the start of the innings as he exploded to 51 off 29, the third-fastest half-ton of his BBL career. It came after he copped a duck in the Stars’ opening match.

After 10 overs, Stoinis was 58 from 34 with the Stars 1-92, before being dismissed shortly afterwards for 61.

“It was nice to get into the tournament,” he said. “I planned sort of to take the game on. At the moment the plan is to be as good as I can be so I’m looking to be aggressive.”

FULL REPORT on Fox Sports here