BBL 07, Match 26 Review: Melbourne Stars get off the mark in the points table

It took a long time for them to get off the mark in the points table, but the Melbourne Stars are up and running with a win in the Melbourne Derby. It was a comprehensive all-round victory for them after battling hard in the first five games but going winless. Their victory opened the League for a couple of other teams, but the Stars are still miles away from the rest.

Veteran Kevin Pietersen is determined to complete his last cricketing assignment on a high. It was his brilliance which gifted Melbourne Stars a victory completely against the run of play. They tried and tested everything in their arsenal, but in the end, it had to be the great man delivering a champion knock.

Ben Dunk was dismissed for a golden duck in the very first over of the game. But Pietersen and Handscomb stitched a brilliant partnership for the second wicket. Pietersen’s gutsy display helped the Stars cross the fifty and hundred mark in very quick time. Pietersen completed a breathtaking half-century, which might not be the best innings this season, but still very attractive and pleasing.

Both these players got dismissed in quick succession after adding 110 runs for the second wicket. The scoring rate dipped in the overs to come but Glenn Maxwell’s short little cameo of 31 in 16 balls saved the day for the Stars. They were firmly in contention to score anything above 190, but eventually, they had to settle for 167 for the loss of 4 scalps.

Mohammad Nabi once again bowled spectacularly, picking up two wickets and giving away just 15 runs. He is becoming a lethal new ball bowler these days, something the IPL franchises will be wary of ahead of the “Mega Auctions”.

A sigh of relief for Hastings and co

John Hastings announced his retirement from the gentlemen’s game last year and was named the Stars’ skipper for this edition. It was so unfortunate on his part that their side put up such a horrendous rendition. But finally, there’s some joy on the veteran’s face and another veteran from the English Lands played a crucial role in that happening.

His bowlers provided him a picture-perfect start, sending three batsmen back in the Powerplay. They could only manage 33 runs in the first 6, which ain’t an ideal start chasing any target. This made the 168-run target look humongous and the bowlers didn’t let them momentum slip away.

DJ Bravo stitched a couple of partnerships with Tom Cooper and Mohammad Nabi in the middle order. But these were too little too late. After scoring just 56 runs in the first 10 overs and losing four wickets, they were down and out. But some late cameos towards the end kept their hopes alive, but these eventually helped only in reducing the win margin.

Jack Wildermuth’s 11-ball 23 was the only effort from their side which seemed compelling. But as it turned out, they amassed 88 runs in the final 10 to end up at 144 losing 9 wickets. They fell 23 short of the target, handing a priceless win for the Melbourne Stars.

Jackson Coleman was the pick of the bowlers, who returned with figures of 3/27. Skipper Hastings and Daniel Worall picked up a brace each. With a game against the winless Sydney Sixers coming up, the Stars have a good chance of registering their second win immediately. Kevin Pietersen was named the player of the match for his outstanding knock.

Brief Scores

Melbourne Stars: 167/4 in 20 overs (Kevin Pietersen 74, Peter Handscomb 41; Mohammad Nabi 2/15)

Melbourne Renegades: 144/9 in 20 overs (DJ Bravo 26; Jackson Coleman 3/27, Daniel Worall 2/25)

Player of the match: Kevin Pietersen

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