A vintage display from evergreen fast bowler Peter Siddle has inspired the Melbourne Stars to a commanding eight-wicket victory over the reigning BBL champions, the Hobart Hurricanes, at the MCG. The 41-year-old's brilliant spell of 3-30 was central to a confidence-boosting upset that launches the Stars' new campaign in perfect fashion.
Siddle and Stoinis Steal the Show
After Stars skipper Marcus Stoinis won the toss and elected to bowl, his decision was vindicated by a collective bowling effort. Peter Siddle, playing domestic cricket since 2005, led the attack with 3-30, expertly using his experience to dismantle the Hurricanes' batting lineup. His efforts, combined with Haris Rauf's late burst, restricted Hobart to a modest 9-158 from their 20 overs.
The chase was then a straightforward affair. Marcus Stoinis blazed an unbeaten 62 from just 31 balls, earning player of the match honours, and was ably supported by young Campbell Kellaway (41 not out). The Stars cruised to their target of 159, finishing on 2-159 with a whopping 24 balls to spare, Stoinis sealing the win with a six.
Maxwell's Magic and Hurricanes' Collapse
The match featured several pivotal moments. Veteran all-rounder Glenn Maxwell opened the bowling with his off-spin, dismissing Mitch Owen with the fourth ball of the game. Maxwell later produced a breathtaking boundary catch to remove former Australian teammate Matthew Wade, a piece of fielding genius that left fans and commentators in awe, with many declaring the effort "not human."
For the Hurricanes, Ben McDermott offered resistance with a well-made 69, but the innings never gained momentum after the early loss of Owen. A collapse was triggered when the dangerous Tim David fell to Siddle, and the tail folded quickly, losing 4-6 in the final eight balls of their innings.
Evergreen Siddle Proves His Worth
Speaking after the match, Siddle expressed his delight at performing after a long preparation. "I just love competing and I don’t want to put out poor performances," Siddle said. The 67-Test veteran, who retired from international cricket in 2019, has tailored his training specifically for the short bursts required in T20 cricket. "The stuff I was doing... was very individualised because I only have to train to bowl four overs," he explained.
The victory provides the perfect start for the Stars, the only BBL franchise yet to win a title, especially after the Hurricanes' triumph last summer. Hobart will look to bounce back quickly when they face the Melbourne Renegades in Geelong on Sunday, while the Stars travel to Adelaide to meet the Strikers next Tuesday night.
