04/01Result
23rd Match (N), Big Bash League at Melbourne, Jan 4 2025
Stars won by 5 wkts (2b rem)
Player of the Match
Ben Duckett
Ben DuckettMelbourne Stars
04/01Result
23rd Match (N), Big Bash League at Melbourne, Jan 4 2025
Stars won by 5 wkts (2b rem)
Player of the Match
Ben Duckett
Ben DuckettMelbourne Stars

10:50pm That will be all from us for tonight. Lots of cricket lined up in different parts of the world and you can catch all of the action on ESPNcricinfo. Until next time, this is goodbye on behalf of Binoy and myself. Take care, everyone!

Afeef: "Two insane sixes in the space of two overs. Maxwell hits a 91 metre six over the keeper, no one does that. And then Cartwright absolutely smashes a 121 metre six, insane!"

Ben Duckett, Player of the Match: It was tough at the start, actually got stuck in and wanted to be there at the end. Did not go that way, but thankfully had them (Cartwright and Maxwell) coming in. That is the strength in depth we have. We know we always have that and wanted to take it deep. Stoinis played beautifully, took all the pressure off me. (On the Cartwright six in the last over and how big it was) Three times as far as I connected (smiles). Coming in, trying to hit fours and sixes on this wicket, exceptional skills and so thankful they could do it. In the nets, he (Cartwright) is hitting them a long way and so glad it came off today. (On the derby) Pretty cool. The crowd was extremely loud and hopefully I get an opportunity another day to play another one. (On his batting plans) Take the ego out, can't do some things the big lads do and try to stick to what I can. Luckily, could get the sweeps away. (On the Ashes in Australia) It is a long way off. Trying to focus on what is in front of me. (On the Stars' playoff hopes) We have played some good cricket, haven't done it all the way through. Was the same tonight, but winning games like that is so big in competitions. If we keep going, keep this momentum, we will keep believing. Been a strange competition for me. Was joking that if I could get past the first ball, I will be okay.

10:41pm Phew. What a thrilling game. With two overs left, it could have been anyone's. But when push came to shove, the Stars and their stars stood up. Maxwell popped one over the fence in the penultimate over and Cartwright then followed it up with one of the biggest sixes you will ever see off Rogers in the 20th, helping the hosts get past the finish line with two balls to spare.

Prior to that mayhem, Duckett and Stoinis had set the foundation - the former getting to his third fifty this season, and the latter motoring along nicely. The Renegades, though, kept doing enough to ensure they did not get away, with the Power Surge, in particular, proving quite useful for the bowling side. In the end, it came down to a dropped catch in the 18th over and had Rogers caught Maxwell, things, the Renegades will feel, may have panned out differently.

19.4
4
Rogers to Cartwright, FOUR, Cartwright finishes things off in style! The Stars win two in a row, and winning is slowly feeling like a habit now! Dug in shorter outside off. Cartwright picks the length early, opens up his front hip and pounds it past deep mid wicket. Runs over to Maxwell and they share a bearhug soon after. They were under the pump after the dismissals of Stoinis and Duckett, but they found the strength, the nous and the nerve to get the Stars across the finish line, at the expense of their cross-town rivals!
19.3
6
Rogers to Cartwright, SIX, Cartwright with a humongous strike and perhaps the decisive strike of this game! Rogers looks for the yorker outside off but misses by a shade. In the slot and Cartwright monsters it. He sat deep in his crease and clattered it into the second tier over long on. A 121m six, thank you very much!

Vinod Rajpal: "Gut feeling this will go for SUPER OVER "

19.2
1
Rogers to Maxwell, 1 run, another brilliant yorker. Right under the bat on leg stump and Maxwell can only squeeze it out to deep mid wicket

9 off 5. Extra cover, mid off, backward point, short third and short fine leg in the ring

19.1
1
Rogers to Cartwright, 1 run, into the blockhole on leg stump. Cartwright drills it out towards long on for a single

10 needed off the last over, which will be bowled by Rogers. And to make matters worse for the Renegades, they need to have an extra fielder in the ring

END OF OVER:
19 | 12 Runs | MS: 159/5 (10 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 8.36, RRR: 10.00)

  • Glenn Maxwell19 (9b)
  • Hilton Cartwright13 (9b)
  • Gurinder Sandhu4-0-29-3
  • Will Sutherland4-0-33-0
18.6
2
Sandhu to Maxwell, 2 runs, cutter on a back of a length on leg stump. Maxwell nurdles it with just the right amount of pace and picks up a brace to deep mid wicket. Smart, smart batting!

12 off 7. Does Maxwell look to retain strike or does he look for the boundary?

18.5
1
Sandhu to Cartwright, 1 run, slower short ball on leg stump. Cartwright swings at it and drags it towards fine leg
18.5
1w
Sandhu to Cartwright, 1 wide, follows Cartwright outside leg with a bumper. Cartwright swings and misses, and the umpire then calls it a wide. Slightly harsh call, given how far Cartwright had gone and the Renegades are not very happy. Replays confirm it was not over the head either
18.4
1
Sandhu to Maxwell, 1 run, slower bumper on middle and leg. Maxwell waits for it and clouts it towards deep mid wicket
18.3
6
Sandhu to Maxwell, SIX, Maxwell goes again. Of course he does, and he finds the crowd! This is audacious, outrageous and all such adjectives. On a length on middle and off. Maxwell gets into position earlier this time and wallops it way back over the deep third fence!
18.2
0
Sandhu to Maxwell, no run, well well! Back of a length just outside leg. Maxwell shapes for the reverse-swat and gives it everything he has. Only swats away a few flies
18.1
1
Sandhu to Cartwright, 1 run, fullish on middle and leg. Cartwright nudges it towards deep mid wicket and is intent on the second. Maxwell, though, says no, rather audibly

Sandhu returns. 22 off 12. Cartwright on strike

END OF OVER:
18 | 10 Runs | MS: 147/5 (22 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 8.16, RRR: 11.00)

  • Glenn Maxwell10 (5b)
  • Hilton Cartwright11 (7b)
  • Will Sutherland4-0-33-0
  • Tom Rogers3-0-25-1
17.6
2
Sutherland to Maxwell, 2 runs, dropped - oh dear! Slanted in on a length, and it follows Maxwell outside leg. He gets tucked up and his attempted slice only travels as far as backward point. Rogers turns himself inside out and gets into an awkward position. Has two bites at it, but still cannot snaffle the chance. Is that the game-changing moment?

24 off 13. Big ball coming up

17.5
1
Sutherland to Cartwright, 1 run, back of a length outside off. Cartwright hangs back and jabs it towards sweeper cover
17.4
0
Sutherland to Cartwright, no run, fuller on middle and leg. The inward angle beats Cartwright again and he misses his flick, with the ball pinging him on the back leg
17.3
1
Sutherland to Maxwell, 1 run, hard length on the stumps. No real room to work with and Maxwell knocks it down the ground
17.2
0
Sutherland to Maxwell, no run, missed chance! Cutter on a back of a length outside off. Spins back into Maxwell and goes past his pull. Rolls off his back thigh into the off side, which prompts his partner to come haring down. Maxwell says no after taking a couple of steps and had Sutherland hit the stumps at the bowler's end, Cartwright would have been well short
17.1
6
Sutherland to Maxwell, SIX, Glenn Maxwell is here, folks! Right in the slot on leg stump. Maxwell cannot believe his luck and clears his front leg and smear it over wide long on!

32 off 18. Sutherland to bowl

END OF OVER:
17 | 10 Runs 1 Wkt | MS: 137/5 (32 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.05, RRR: 10.66)

  • Hilton Cartwright10 (5b)
  • Glenn Maxwell1 (1b)
  • Tom Rogers3-0-25-1
  • Gurinder Sandhu3-0-17-3
16.6
6
Rogers to Cartwright, SIX, Cartwright goes massive! A fraction short on off and that is all Cartwright needs. He picks the length early, gets inside the line and then somehow shovels it over the fine leg fence!
16.5
0
Rogers to Cartwright, no run, back of a length on middle and leg. Cartwright gets caught on the crease and gets a scratch on it before the ball smashes into his pads. The ball was trickling towards the stumps too, until Cartwright got his bat in the way

11 runs and two wickets off the Power Surge so far

16.4
2
Rogers to Cartwright, 2 runs, strays onto the pads. Cartwright uses the pace and the angle to glance it past short fine leg for another double
16.3
2
Rogers to Cartwright, 2 runs, hard length on off. Cartwright stays leg side and punches it between point and backward point. Off the mark with a brace
16.2
0
Rogers to Cartwright, no run, zipped in full on middle and off. Cartwright plays it back to the bowler

Stars sill have firepower, especially with Cartwright now joining Maxwell. But new batters have not found it easy on this surface

16.1
W
Rogers to Stoinis, OUT, Stoinis perishes too, and this game has been turned on its head! Seems like a change-up that is dug into the track. Stoinis looks to swipe it across the line but gets no power on it at all. Bethell, well inside the deep mid wicket fence, dives forward to pouch it and Stoinis is dejected as he storms off to the dugout!

MP Stoinis c Bethell b Rogers 48 (45m 35b 5x4 1x6) SR: 137.14

Rogers to bowl the 17th. 42 off 24

CP: "The wicket equally belongs to Sutherland and Bethell who created pressure with two excellent overs "

END OF OVER:
16 | 7 Runs 1 Wkt | MS: 127/4 (42 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 7.93, RRR: 10.50)

  • Marcus Stoinis48 (34b)
  • Glenn Maxwell1 (1b)
  • Gurinder Sandhu3-0-17-3
  • Jacob Bethell3-0-19-0
15.6
1
Sandhu to Stoinis, 1 run, back of a length outside off. Stoinis drops it into the off side and Maxwell is alert enough to sneak in a run

Stars 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st1BM DuckettTF Rogers
2nd2BM DuckettSB Harper
3rd38BM DuckettDW Lawrence
4th83MP StoinisBM Duckett
5th3MP StoinisGJ Maxwell
6th44GJ MaxwellHWR Cartwright