BBL|14 (Twitter Reactions): Glenn Maxwell propels Melbourne Stars into playoffs with win over Hobart Hurricanes



The Melbourne Stars secured his place in the playoffs of the Big Bash League 2024/25 with a comprehensive 40-run victory over the Hobart Hurricanes. Glenn Maxwell he was named Player of the Match for his astonishing knock of 76 not out.

Table-toppers Hobart Hurricanes faced defeat

After electing to bat first, the Stars posted a formidable 219/5 in their 20 overs, powered by Beau Webster’s aggressive 51 off 31 deliveries and contributions from Maxwell who top scored with an unbeaten 76 off 32 balls. The Stars showed their batting depth, with Hilton Cartwright i Marcus Stoinis also intervening with crucial runs. In reply, the Hurricanes struggled to chase down the target, falling short at 179/10 in 19.3 overs. Mark Steketee was the main destroyer for the Stars, picking up four wickets for just 24 runs, supported by Usama Mir i Tom Curran who swallowed two wickets each. Despite Tim David’s quickfire 40 off 22 balls, the Hurricanes could not sustain the required run rate, losing wickets at regular intervals, leading to their downfall.

BBL 14 journey ends for Perth Scorchers

This win not only propelled the Stars to fourth place in the points table, but also kept their unbeaten streak intact, with five straight wins now securing a spot in the playoffs. The Hurricanes, despite the defeat, remain at the top of the table with 15 points but have missed the chance to extend their lead. This result not only highlights the resurgence of the Stars in the league, but also represents a major setback for the Hurricanes, who will now look to regroup ahead of the playoffs. With this victory, the stars now face each other Sydney Thunderstorm in the ‘Knockout’ round on January 22, determined to extend their journey in the competition even further. In the meantime Perth Scorchers trip ended in the tournament with the defeat of the Hurricanes.

Also WATCH: Marcus Stoinis takes extraordinary late catch in BBL 2024-25

The overall performance of the Melbourne Stars proves too much for the Hurricanes

In the 40th match of BBL 14 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Stars put up a stellar display with bat and ball, setting a daunting target of 220 runs for the Hurricanes to chase down. Sam Harper i Thomas Rogers laid a strong foundation early on, getting the Stars going with a steady 30-run partnership. However, it was Webster who paced the innings, hitting boundaries at will and amassing 51 off just 31 balls to fuel the Stars’ innings.

Maxwell’s calm and composed innings at the end further stabilized the innings, allowing the Stars to post a huge 219/5. His masterful 76 not out off just 32 deliveries punctuated by five boundaries and six sixes showed his class and proved to be the game changer. The Stars’ middle and lower order provided enough firepower to set up a daunting target for the Hurricanes.

On the bowling front, the Stars kept the pressure on from the start, with Steketee wreaking havoc in the powerplay, dismissing key batsmen. Caleb Jewell i Ben McDermott. Steketee’s haul of four wickets was instrumental in derailing the Hurricanes’ chase as they never really recovered from those early setbacks.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

Also WATCH: Usman Khawaja gleefully mocks his wife Rachel Khwaja during BBL|14





Source link

Related Posts

Trending now

What are Trump’s options for communicating with Iran?
Three killed and dozens injured as a result of an explosion at a Thai festival
Moment: South Korean lawmakers vote to impeach President Yun
Crawford’s age is a factor in Canelo’s potential clash, Garcia says