The Melbourne Stars have rocketed to their finest start to a Big Bash League season in over a decade, dismantling the Sydney Thunder by nine wickets in Canberra on Sunday. This commanding victory marks their fourth consecutive win, propelling them to the summit of the BBL ladder.
Clinical Chase Seals Dominant Victory
Chasing a modest target of 129, the Stars' batters made light work of the total, cruising to victory with a whopping 36 balls to spare. Joe Clarke set the platform with a fluent 60 from just 37 deliveries, showcasing superb timing. Captain Glenn Maxwell then provided the fireworks, finishing unbeaten on 39 from 20 balls, sealing the win with his second six of the night—a powerful strike straight down the ground.
Maxwell's first maximum during the innings was a historic one, bringing up his 150th BBL six. He becomes only the second player ever to reach that milestone, though he still trails the prolific Chris Lynn, who has 220. Sam Harper provided steady support with an unbeaten 29.
Fielding Drama and Thunder's Batting Struggles
The match was not without its heart-stopping moment. During the final over of the Thunder's innings, a sky-high shot from Reece Topley led to a terrifying near-miss. Fielders Hilton Cartwright and Haris Rauf sprinted from opposite directions and both dove for the catch, narrowly avoiding a sickening collision at the last second. The incident evoked memories of a horrific clash between Thunder players almost exactly a year ago.
Earlier, the Thunder's innings never found momentum despite a brisk start. Opener Matt Gilkes was dismissed for 24 after being given two lives, both in the same over from Pakistan quick Haris Rauf, who was outstanding with figures of 3-29. David Warner managed to hit Marcus Stoinis onto the Manuka Oval roof but fell the very next ball.
The Thunder slumped to 4-64 after ten overs and failed to accelerate. New Stars recruit, leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson, made an immediate impact, taking two wickets including one with his very first delivery for the club.
Stars Riding a Wave of Momentum
Stars captain Marcus Stoinis was delighted with his team's clinical performance. "We can't complain; we're in a nice spot and we have to run with this momentum and we're doing that," Stoinis said. He praised the squad's collective effort, noting, "Different boys are contributing; it feels good, it's clinical."
The victory solidifies the Stars' position as the form team of the competition. As the only BBL franchise yet to win a title, this explosive start to the season will fuel hopes that 2024 could be their year. For the Sydney Thunder, the loss leaves them with a concerning record of one win and three losses.
