Sydney Thunder
Match Complete
Melbourne Stars
| 6/74 Sydney Thunder win by 15 runs (DLS Method) |
| 3/5 (2.0) | *Sams | O: 8.0 | Larkin* | 28 (13) |
| 1/25 (2.0) | Sandhu | RR:7.93 | Zampa | 1 (3) |
| b. Sams |  | 6.2 6/55 |  | Gulbis 10(5) |
| c. Rainbird b. Sandhu | | 4.5 5/33 | | Bravo 11(8) |
| c. Sangha b. Green | | 3.3 4/22 | | Stoinis 2(3) |
| c. Rainbird b. Sams | | 2.6 3/20 | | Maxwell 0(4) |
| lbw. Sams | | 2.1 2/14 | | Dean 7(9) |
| c. Buttler b. McAndrew | | 1.5 1/13 | | Dunk 2(4) |
| First Innings: Sydney Thunder | 5/181 | RR: 7.76 | O: 20.0 |
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| First Innings: Sydney Thunder | 5/181 | RR: 7.76 | O: 20.0 |
|---|
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
J.C. Buttler+ b. Zampa | 20 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 125.00 |
S.R. Watson* c. Larkin b. Lamichhane | 22 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 115.79 |
C.J. Ferguson c+b. Lamichhane | 15 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 136.36 |
J.E. Root c. Dunk b. Zampa | 18 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 105.88 |
J.J.S. Sangha not out | 63 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 175.00 |
D.R. Sams c. Dunk b. Bravo | 34 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 161.90 |
C.J. Green not out | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
N. McAndrew | |||||
G.S. Sandhu | |||||
S.L. Rainbird | |||||
F. Ahmed | |||||
Extras (b 2, lb 0, w 5, nb 1) | 8 | ||||
| Total | 181 | ||||
| Bowlers | O | M | R | W | Ec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M.A. Beer | 4.0 | 0 | 44 | 0 | 11.00 |
| J.R. Coleman | 2.0 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 11.50 |
| A. Zampa | 4.0 | 0 | 23 | 2 | 5.75 |
| D.J. Bravo | 4.0 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 7.00 |
| S. Lamichhane | 4.0 | 0 | 36 | 2 | 9.00 |
| G.J. Maxwell | 1.0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8.00 |
| M.P. Stoinis | 1.0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 17.00 |
| First Innings: Melbourne Stars | 6/74 | RR: 7.93 | O: 8.0 |
|---|
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T.J. Dean lbw. Sams | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 77.78 |
B.R. Dunk+ c. Buttler b. McAndrew | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
G.J. Maxwell* c. Rainbird b. Sams | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
M.P. Stoinis c. Sangha b. Green | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
D.J. Bravo c. Rainbird b. Sandhu | 11 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 137.50 |
N.C.R. Larkin not out | 28 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 215.38 |
E.P. Gulbis b. Sams | 10 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 200.00 |
A. Zampa not out | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
S. Lamichhane | |||||
J.R. Coleman | |||||
M.A. Beer | |||||
Extras (b 0, lb 10, w 2, nb 1) | 13 | ||||
| Total | 74 | ||||
| Bowlers | O | M | R | W | Ec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S.L. Rainbird | 1.0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6.00 |
| N. McAndrew | 2.0 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 11.00 |
| D.R. Sams | 2.0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2.50 |
| C.J. Green | 1.0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 6.00 |
| G.S. Sandhu | 2.0 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 12.50 |
The Melbourne Stars will be looking to rebound from a wooden spoon 12 months ago, but won’t be in for an easy start with a trip north to play the Sydney Thunder. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:15pm (AEDT).
The Stars, for so long the glamour team of the competition who couldn’t for the life of them find a way to win the competition and have the success of the Perth Scorchers, suffered a dramatic fall from grace last year.
The Melbourne-based side picked up their first wooden spoon, putting together a dreadful season of cricket where they never looked in most games they played.
With that being said, it’s a new import strategy featuring Nepalese spinner Sandeep Lamichhane and big hitting, all-rounded West Indian Dwayne Bravo for the new season.
Bravo has a huge role to play with both bat and ball this year as a new arrival at the club, while domestic talent will be led by a fresh captain in Glenn Maxwell.
The big-hitting Maxwell has extra responsibility to take on with the Stars this year, and him having a big season could prove to be part of the difference between them making the finals and failing to do so.
They will be hurt by an injury to Nic Maddinson though, who broke his arm in the Sheffield Shield last week.
The Thunder, on the other hand, will have to spend a large chunk of the season without Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja who are off representing Australia, while their imports will also both change mid-season with Joe Root and Jos Buttler needed for England commitments.
The unsettled squad means they need to make a strong start, including winning here because there could be some mid-season uncertainty around positions in the XI which could disrupt the side.
On the other side of the coin, their spin bowling options are outstanding. Fawad Ahmed and Arjun Nair were at the top of the tree last year in that department, while Kurtis Patterson and Callum Ferguson provide experience and balance to the batting order.
Shane Watson will again be the captain and X-Factor of the Thunder though. He had a huge season 12 months ago and will want to do the same, dragging the youth in his side with him.
Prediction
The Thunder should take this one. The injury to Maddinson will be just too much for the Stars to overcome when they were already on the back foot with their squad.
Thunder to start strongly.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the third BBL|08 match from 7:15pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Game information
First ball: 7:15pm (AEDT)
Venue: Spotless Stadium, Homebush, Sydney
TV: Live, Fox Cricket 501, Channel 7
Online: Live, Foxtel app, Foxtel now, Kayo Sports
Betting: Thunder $1.81, Stars $2
Overall record: Played 8, Thunder 5, Stars 3
Last meeting: January 20, 2018 – Thunder defeat Stars by 7 wickets at MCG
Last five: Thunder 4, Stars 1
Umpires: Simon Lightbody, Tony Wilds
Sydney Thunder (squad)
Shane Watson (c), Fawad Ahmed, Jos Buttler (England), Callum Ferguson, Ryan Gibson, Chris Green, Liam Hatcher, Jay Lenton, Nathan McAndrew, Arjun Nair, Kurtis Patterson, Sam Rainbird, Joe Root (England), Daniel Sams, Gurinder Sandhu, Jason Sangha
Melbourne Stars (squad)
Glenn Maxwell (c), Michael Beer, Jackson Bird, Scott Boland, Liam Bowe, Dwayne Bravo (West Indies), Jackson Coleman, Travis Dean, Ben Dunk, Seb Gotch, Evan Gulbis, Sandeep Lamichhane (Nepal), Nic Maddinson, Jonathan Merlo, Marcus Stoinis, Daniel Worrall, Adam Zampa
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me tonight on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2018-19 Big Bash League as the Sydney Thunder beat the Melbourne Stars in a rain-affected game from Canberra. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. There are two games tomorrow. Oliver Matthews will be on for the Sydney Sixers and Perth Scorchers at 3:30pm (AEDT), then it'll be Sarah Wildy with the second game between the Brisbane Heat and Hobart Hurricanes from 7pm (AEDT). From me, I'm heading off for a couple of days over the Christmas break. I'll be back for BBL action on the 27th of December and the Test the following day. I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas. May the festive season be both safe and enjoyable for you and your families. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
SYDNEY THUNDER DEFEAT MELBOURNE STARS BY 15 RUNS (D/L Method) Slower, fuller one to finish it off. Larkin slices the ball down the ground and grabs a single to long off. The late flurry from Larkin will help the Stars on the net run rate, but in the end, they have fallen 15 runs short of a difficult rain-affected chase in Canberra as the Sydney Thunder get on the board with their first win of the season. In the end, Daniel Sams 3/5 from 2 overs was the difference, but a regular fall of wickets getting rid of Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dunk and Dwayne Bravo as the danger men did the trick and made the job too difficult for the Stars. Earlier, the Thunder had put up a very challenging score of 181 before the rain, with Jason Sangha and Daniel Sams doing the job with the bat after a flurry of wickets left them in trouble at one point thanks to the excellent bowling of Sandeep Lachhimane and Adam Zampa. Sydney Thunder: 5/181 (20) Melbourne Stars: 6/74 (8)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Low full toss from Sandhu. Driven through wide mid on for a couple by Larkin here, who has 27. Over: 7.5 Stars: 6/73 D/L target: 90 (8 overs)
Scott Pryde
Expert
SIX Short from Sandhu and Larkin is looking good here. He swings one over mid wicket and that'll go the journey. Over: 7.4 Stars: 6/71 D/L target: 90 (8 overs)
Scott Pryde
Expert
FOUR Short, wide, Larkin cuts it away and gets over the infield, the ball running away for a boundary. Over: 7.2 Stars: 6/65 D/L target: 90 (8 overs)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Larkin with a snick to a full, wide one. It doesn't carry through to Buttler. Over: 7.2 Stars: 6/61 D/L target: 90 (8 overs)
Scott Pryde
Expert
FOUR Sandhu to bowl the last. He starts full, outside the off stump and Larkin tried to swing it over mid wicket, getting a thick edge to the third man boundary. Over: 7.1 Stars: 6/61 D/L target: 90 (8 overs)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Slower ball off a length to end the over from Sams. Zampa was through his shot far too early and he had no idea, only just getting bat on ball. Sams finishes with 3 for 5 off 2 and 31 off 24. Great night for him. Over: 7 Stars: 6/57 D/L target: 90 (8 overs)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Bouncer from Sams. Swing and a miss from Zampa. Over: 6.5 Stars: 6/57 D/L target: 90 (8 overs)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Sams with a full one outside the off stump this time. Driven through the covers by Larkin for one. Over: 6.4 Stars: 6/57 D/L target: 90 (8 overs)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Sams with a full ball outside the off stump. Zampa runs it to third man for a single. Over: 6.3 Stars: 6/56 D/L target: 90 (8 overs)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Adam Zampa next man in.
Scott Pryde
Expert
WICKET! Evan Gulbis, Bowled Daniel Sams 10 (5) Gone! Perfect yorker from Sams. Gulbis was trying to get inventive with a sweep shot, missing it as the ball rips the stumps out of the ground. Over: 6.2 Stars: 6/55 D/L target: 90 (8 overs)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Sams takes the pace off to start the over. Larkin cuts, but hits it too hard to the sweeper and can only get one. 35 from 11. Over: 6.1 Stars: 5/55 D/L target: 90 (8 overs)
Scott Pryde
Expert
20 off that McAndrew over. Daniel Sams is back.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Gulbis tries to pull a short one across the line here. Inside edge for a spinner, then a throw at the stumps turns it into a two with an overthrow. So, 36 from 2 overs. Over: 6 Stars: 5/54 D/L target: 90 (8 overs)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Ball change coming up.
Scott Pryde
Expert
SIX Full from McAndrew this time and Gulbis picked it up nicely, getting the ball right out of the middle over mid wicket. Lovely shot. 38 from 13 needed. Over: 5.5 Stars: 5/52 D/L target: 90 (8 overs)