BBL14: Stars’ horror run continues as James Vince ton leads Sixers to scintiliating victory
English Test opener Ben Duckett got the party started for the Stars, but in the end it was another Englishman who stole the show, as James Vince handed Melbourne to their latest loss.
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James Vince became just the second Sixers player to score a BBL century as the men in magenta heaped more misery on the winless Stars with the highest run chase of the BBL season.
His knock in the second innings followed a stunning display from Ben Duckett who dished out some Bazball brilliance just hours after Sam Konstas’ magical knock in what could be a preview for next year’s Ashes.
The Stars have now lost all four of their matches after they failed to defend a monster score of 9/194 thanks to Duckett’s whirlwind 68.
Instead, the Sixers rarely looked troubled as they chased down the total with eight wickets in hand and eleven balls to spare thanks to an unbeaten 101 from Vince who joined Steve Smith as the only player to score a BBL century for the club.
James Vince, take a bow! 💯
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 26, 2024
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Vince and Josh Philippe (42 off 23) added 83 for the first wicket before Duckett took the first of his two catches, with Vince taking a particular liking to Glenn Maxwell who went for 25 in the second over of the power surge.
The Englishman played normal cricket shots and brought up his hundred off 57 balls as the hosts made a daunting run chase look scarily simple.
It was another perfect chase from the hosts who beat the Thunder on the final ball of the Sydney Smash, but they have another injury concern with Jack Edwards (hamstring tightness) not coming out to bat.
BEN STARS BUT IT’S NOT ENOUGH
The English opener was out first ball against the Strikers last week but Duckett bounced back in a big way to help the winless Stars post what should have been a winning total.
Inspired by Konstas’ incredible knock in Melbourne, Duckett smashed the Sixers to all parts of the ground, with the number one draft pick whacking six boundaries off one Akeal Hosein over to help the visitors score 57 in the power play.
It was a stunning display of power and placement as he slapped a couple of switch hits off the world’s number one ranked T20 bowler in one of the most brutal knocks of the season.
Duckett eventually fell for 68 off 29 having brought up his half-century off just 22 deliveries with the first of his two sixes.
“I’m guessing I haven’t done that before (hit six boundaries in an over), but I’m not too sure,” Duckett said on the Fox Cricket coverage after his whirlwind knock.
“It’s probably the most nervous I’ve come into a T20 with a golden duck in my first game for a new team.
“I’m just really happy that I could contribute today.
“We’ve just spoken about being fearless and trying to entertain, and that’s what the Melbourne Stars have done over the years. We don’t want to go down into our shells.”
The Stars looked like posting 220 with Glenn Maxwell at the crease, but the innings stalled when he fell on the final ball of the power surge for 32 to leave their finals hopes hanging by a thread.
Six straight boundaries for the Melbourne Stars! ðŸ‘
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 26, 2024
📺 WATCH #BBL14 on Ch.501 or stream via Kayo https://t.co/mOK58oaQO1
âœï¸ BLOG https://t.co/QZmEpDm1W9
🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/M7K9TqFtx6pic.twitter.com/nvHWYNgbaZ
IN TODD WE TRUST
Hosein may have been belted to all parts, but fellow spinner Todd Murphy was huge for the Sixers as he stemmed the runs with 2-26 from his four overs in front of 23,212 fans.
Quicks Jackson Bird and Ben Dwarshuis combined for five wickets, but it was Murphy who frustrated the visitors with a performance that will only help his chances of being picked in the Test squad for Sri Lanka.
Originally published as BBL14: Stars’ horror run continues as James Vince ton leads Sixers to scintiliating victory
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