MS vs ST

Well, the action ends, and so does our live coverage for this thrilling BBL encounter. We hope to bring you continued sporting action during this festive season. Don’t forget to tune in for the next BBL encounter that will take place tomorrow between the Hobart Hurricanes and the Melbourne Renegades at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart. For now, this is Datrim Ray and Bala signing off on behalf of the Sportskeeda team. Enjoy the rest of the day and take care!

Haris Rauf (Player of the Match): I always love to play Big Bash. I grew up in Australia. As a cricketer, always love to play here. As a bowling unit, we could assess the conditions. We have good communication with each other. Stoinis has a good cricketing mind. I keep listening to him, it's easy for me. All the boys are happy, winning four games in a row. As a team, we are gelling well.

Melbourne Stars won by 9 wickets.

Joe Clarke - 60 (37) | Haris Rauf - 3/29
Shadab Khan - 25 (24) | Chris Green - 1/8

A stunning win for the Melbourne Stars! They continue their stellar run in this tournament and have registered their fourth win on the trot! Agony for the Thunder as they simply did not have enough to challenge the Stars tonight. The Melbourne Stars openers were hardly fazed at the start of the run chase. Runs trickled through almost effortlessly off the bat of Joe Clarke. Boundaries came thick and fast as the Thunder bowlers buckled under pressure inside the powerplay.

As the run chase unfolded, Clarke continued to pummel the Thunder bowlers, over after over. Thanks to his unprecedented onslaught, the asking rate was simply taken out of the equation. The ball flew to all parts, and the Thunder bowlers were left searching for answers. Eventually, Clarke brought up a breezy fifty in only 29 balls. He pressed on further and starred with a blazing 60 (37). Unfortunately, he couldn’t finish the run chase off. But Harper (29 off 27) hung around till the end to complete the finishing job. He paired with Maxwell and put the final nail in the coffin for Thunder by wrapping up the run chase inside 14 overs. Maxwell further added to their misery by terrorizing the Thunder bowlers with his incredible switch-hits towards the end!

So as things stand, after four games, the Melbourne Stars stay undefeated at the top. Sydney Thunder will need to find a way to regroup quickly to avoid a further slip-up. Hang in there as we bring you the post-match presentation updates shortly. 

13.6 Tanveer Sangha to Glenn Maxwell, SIX! Finishes it off in style! Just a hint of air on the delivery and Maxwell gets underneath it, pummels the ball into the sight-screen

13.4 Tanveer Sangha to Glenn Maxwell, FOUR! Switch hit! Fires it in full down the leg-side. Maxwell changes stance and hammers it over covers, or the left-hander's mid-wicket

13.3 Tanveer Sangha to Glenn Maxwell, FOUR! Too easy for Maxwell. He is shaping up for the reverse sweep. Sangha spots it and bowls wide of the off-stump. He is still good enough to pick it up over short third

Just 13 needed in 42 balls. Victory is certainly in sight for the Stars! Maxwell would be itching to finish the game off in this over. Sangha [1-0-11-0] comes on to bowl now. 

12.4 Shadab Khan to Glenn Maxwell, FOUR! Connects it this time. It's the reverse sweep once again. Shadab has bowled it wide of the off-stump, but he covers the line and gets enough bat on it to clear short third

12.3 Shadab Khan to Glenn Maxwell, spots the batter shaping up for the reverse sweep and bowls a slow loopy delivery wide of off. He can't connect

12.2 Shadab Khan to Glenn Maxwell, FOUR! Connects this one alright! Tossed up on a length outside off. Slog sweeps, with his powerful bottom hand coming into play. Right in between the two fielders in the deep

Shadab [3-0-15-0] comes on to bowl his last over. He has been very economical so far. Can he find a wicket in his final over to give his side something to cheer about?