The Melbourne Stars secured their place in the playoffs of the Big Bash League 2024/25 with a comprehensive 40-run victory over the Hobart Hurricanes. Glenn Maxwell 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 showcased their depth in batting, with Hilton Cartwright and Marcus Stoinis also chipping in with crucial runs. In response, the Hurricanes struggled to chase down the target, falling short at 179/10 in 19.3 overs. Mark Steketee was the chief destroyer for the Stars, picking up four wickets for just 24 runs, supported by Usama Mir and Tom Curran who bagged two wickets each. Despite Tim David’s quickfire 40 off 22 balls, the Hurricanes failed to maintain the required run-rate, losing wickets at regular intervals, which led to their downfall.
BBL 14 journey ends for Perth Scorchers
This victory not only propelled Stars to the fourth spot on the points table but also kept their unbeaten streak intact, with five consecutive wins that have now secured a playoff berth. The Hurricanes, despite the loss, remain at the top of the table with 15 points but missed the opportunity to extend their lead. This result not only highlights the Stars’ resurgence in the league but also marks a significant setback for the Hurricanes, who will now look to regroup ahead of the playoffs. With this win, the Stars now face Sydney Thunder in the ‘Knockout’ round on January 22, determined to extend their journey further in the competition. Meanwhile Perth Scorchers journey ended in the tournament with the defeat of Hurricanes.
Also WATCH: Marcus Stoinis pulls off an extraordinary backward-running catch in the BBL 2024-25
Melbourne Stars’ all-round performance proves too much for Hurricanes
In the 40th match of BBL 14 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Stars put on a stellar display with both bat and ball, setting a daunting target of 220 runs for the Hurricanes to chase. Sam Harper and Thomas Rogers laid a solid foundation early on, putting the Stars on track with a steady 30-run partnership. However, it was Webster who accelerated the innings, hitting boundaries at will and amassing 51 off just 31 balls to inject momentum into the Stars’ innings.
Maxwell’s calm and composed innings at the end further stabilized the innings, allowing the Stars to post a massive 219/5. His masterful 76 not out from just 32 deliveries, punctuated with five boundaries and six sixes, exhibited his class and proved to be the game-changer. The Stars’ middle and lower order provided just enough firepower to set 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 batters Caleb Jewell and Ben McDermott. Steketee’s four-wicket haul was instrumental in derailing the Hurricanes’ chase, as they never truly recovered from those early setbacks.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
THE STARS HAVE ALIGNED 💚
Finals bound in #BBL14! #TheSkyIsTheLimit pic.twitter.com/8LOFh76Bcn
— Melbourne Stars (@StarsBBL) January 19, 2025
Glenn Maxwell has done it AGAIN. #BBL14 pic.twitter.com/qedfcOY3eN
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 19, 2025
Stars needed 5 wins after 5 defeats to qualify… And Maxwell steps up with one after the other crazy knocks…
76*(32)
90(52)
58*(32)
20*(10)— arfan (@Im__Arfan) January 19, 2025
What a turn around for Melbourne Stars in BBL. Five straight wins after losing the first five matches and out of nowhere they are sitting at 4th in the table. Great stuff from Marcus Stoinis and team.@StarsBBL @BBL
— thatcricketguy (@AlanMatthew7) January 19, 2025
What symmetry in this season for the Melbourne Stars!
And how good has Glen Maxwell been!!! pic.twitter.com/1VEahghp0R
— Krishna Chaitanya (@k15h4n04) January 19, 2025
The Melbourne stars season and finals has a big Brisbane lions feel about it. 0-5 and now haven’t lost since.
Won’t win it, but great story 👏🏼
— Darcy W. ✍️ (@darcywells2k18) January 19, 2025
A stunning turnaround!
After losing their first five matches, Melbourne Stars win five in a row to storm into the #BBL14 knockouts! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/ohOBPNGs39
— Doctor Of Memes (@IndiaCricArmy) January 19, 2025
Melbourne Stars in this BBL 2025:
First 5 Matches – 5 Loses, 0 Win.
Last 5 Matches – 5 Wins, 0 Lose.– Melbourne does the same thing as RCB did in IPL 2024 and now Melbourne stars has QUALIFIED for playoffs in this BBL. 🤯🥶 pic.twitter.com/uhA25g8FQv
— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) January 19, 2025
Our #BBL14 season comes to an end 🧡 Thanks to all our #MADETOUGH Members and fans for your incredible support throughout the season! 🏟️🔥 pic.twitter.com/sTB0jS2OKZ
— Perth Scorchers (@ScorchersBBL) January 19, 2025
Also WATCH: Usman Khawaja light-heartedly pokes fun at wife Rachel Khwaja during BBL|14
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