After posting an astonishing crowd of 80,883 the MCG plays host once again as the Melbourne Stars look to claim their third straight win against the Hobart Hurricanes. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:30pm (AEDT).
After dropping their first two games, the Stars have begun playing closer to their potential. A win here would take them into the top four, with Hobart dropping down to fifth.
Hobart will rise to second with a win, underlying the importance of this game. They were thrashed by the Renegades on Monday night in a match where the result was overshadowed by Chris Gayle’s interview.
Luke Wright will be looking to emulate his wonderful century in the Melbourne derby, while Kevin Pietersen’s tournament strike rate of 155 will spark fear into Hobart’s bowlers.
He may look to attack Darren Sammy (9.62) and Jake Reed (9.60) whose economy rates have been unfavourable so far. Cameron Boyce has been the pick of Hobart’s bowlers with a tournament leading ten wickets, while Shaun Tait has seven.
Hobart’s top order of Ben Dunk, Tim Paine and Kumar Sangakkara failed miserably in their last outing against the Renegades. George Bailey has been impressive with 185 runs at a strike rate of 154.17, and will likely be relied upon again. James Faulkner (9.08) and Scott Boland (9.00) have struggled with their economy.
Keeping in line with the impressive spin bowling we have seen this season from the likes of Boyce and Adil Rashid is the Stars’ Michael Beer, who has kept his economy down to just 6.5 runs per over.
This match promises plenty of entertainment with big hitters Pietersen, Glenn Maxwell, Dan Christian and Bailey all involved, with the winner finishing the evening in the top four.
Join The Roar for live scores of the Stars versus Hurricanes from 7:40pm (AEDT).
If you are following the action live, be sure to share your thoughts on the match in the comments below.
James Silver
Roar Guru
11 overs Stars cruising to victory here, as Maxwell and Wright both move into the 30s. MS 2/83 42 from 54 needed.
James Silver
Roar Guru
7 overs Tait back into the attack to bowl to Maxwell - should be exciting. Goes for a few runs, but no boundaries, as the Stars look back in control now. MS 2/45 80 from 78 needed.
James Silver
Roar Guru
6 overs Maxwell and Wright both take Rainbird to the fence via a cover drive and leg-side nudge respectively. MS 2/38 87 from 84 needed
James Silver
Roar Guru
5 overs Maxwell the new man in, as Wright takes a single to calm things down. MS 2/28 97 from 90 needed
James Silver
Roar Guru
WICKET Now Pietersen is gone! He tells Channel Ten that he doesn't want to chat until he is settled in, but he won't get that chance. Wright smashes rose for four and six. He then played a cut and went to run but changed his mind, Pietersen ended up at the same end and will have to go. Pietersen Run Out 1 (1) MS 2/27
James Silver
Roar Guru
4 overs WICKET Woeful drop from Bailey. Rainbird lures Wright into a big heave which he skies toward Bailey at mid-off. Bailey drops it in front of his face before dropping the rebound as well. This time Stoinis is gone! Caught at long-on. It looked like it may go for six but Dunk caught it just inside the boundary rope. Stoinis c Dunk b Rainbird 10 (16) MS 1/15 110 from 96 needed
James Silver
Roar Guru
3 overs Now it's time for the wild thing! You feel he could be the one to make some inroads. His first three balls are dots. Stoinis just gets a cut away for two. Follows up with another two. MS 0/10 115 from 102 needed
James Silver
Roar Guru
2 overs Rainbird rather than Tait given the new ball. He keeps it tidy as well. MS 0/6 119 from 108 needed
James Silver
Roar Guru
1 over Tight over from Rose, worked for a couple of singles. MS 0/2 123 from 114 needed
James Silver
Roar Guru
Melbourne set to begin their chase. Hobart following the spin trend by giving the new ball to Clive Rose. Stoinis and Wright opening the batting.
James Silver
Roar Guru
Hobart have set the Stars with an easy target of 125 to chase. You wouldn't expect them to have any troubles chasing that. Hobart - All Out 124 (20 Overs) Bailey 55 (40) Wells 22 (29) Sammy 17 (14) Dunk 11 (6) Zampa 4: 2/18 Boland 4: 2/26 Beer 3: 1/12 Hastings 4: 1/23 Maxwell 3: 1/25
James Silver
Roar Guru
WICKET Final ball of the innings. Boland to Tait on a hat-trick. Tait defends to avoid the hat-trick but it's a team hat-trick! He's run out by an inch as the ball went down to mid-off. Tait Run Out 0 (1) All Out 124
James Silver
Roar Guru
WICKET Bowled again! This time its Rainbird gone to a yorker, as he went for a slog. Rainbird b Boland 0 (1) HH 9/124
James Silver
Roar Guru
WICKET Boyce goes for a big swing against Boland but misses and is bowled. Boyce 1 (2) b Boland HH 8/124
James Silver
Roar Guru
19 overs WICKET Hastings gets Sammy with a yorker! Sammy made room to have a big swing but missed. Sammy b Hastings 17 (13) Hastings 4: 1/23 HH 7/121
James Silver
Roar Guru
18 overs Some good full bowling from Boland there. Seven from the over. HH 6/115
James Silver
Roar Guru
17 overs Hastings bowls to Sammy who hits a four just over Zampa's head. It bounced twice before hitting the rope as Zampa was 20 metres in. HH 6/108
James Silver
Roar Guru
16 overs Sammy and Rose have to be the men to steer Hobart home now. Zampa 4: 2/18 HH 6/100
James Silver
Roar Guru
WICKET Zampa's on a roll! He beats Bailey for pace as it crashes into the off stump. Bailey b Zampa 55 (40) 6/99
James Silver
Roar Guru
WICKET Zampa gets Wells with a stumping. He came down to drive and missed it. Handscomb missed at first attempt but not the second. Wells st Handscomb b Zampa 22 (29) 5/98