THE Melbourne Stars secured their place in the playoffs Big Bash League 2024/25 with a complete 40 point 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 defeated
After opting to bat first, Stars posted a formidable 219/5 in their 20 overs, powered by Beau WebsteR’s aggressive deliveries off 31 and contributions from Maxwell, who top-scored with an unbeaten 76 off 32 balls. The Stars demonstrated their depth at the plate, with Hilton Cartwright And Marcus Stoinis also participates in crucial races. In response, the Hurricanes struggled to reach the target, falling short at 179/10 in 19.3 overs. Mark Steketee was the Stars’ destroyer-in-chief, picking up four wickets for just 24 runs, supported by Osama 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, leading to their downfall.
BBL 14 journey ends for Perth Scorchers
The win not only propelled the Stars to fourth place in the points table, but also kept their unbeaten streak intact, with five straight wins now securing them a place in the playoffs. The Hurricanes, despite the defeat, remain at the top of the standings with 15 points but missed the opportunity to increase their lead. This result not only highlights the Stars’ strong return to the league, but also marks a significant setback for the Hurricanes, who will now look to regroup ahead of the playoffs. With this victory, the Stars now face Sydney Thunder during the elimination round on January 22, determined to extend their run in the competition. In the meantime Perth Burners The trip ended in the tournament with the Hurricanes losing.
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Melbourne Stars’ overall performance proves too much for Hurricanes
In the 40th match of BBL 14 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Stars put in an outstanding display with both bat and ball, setting an ambitious target of 220 runs for the Hurricanes to chase. Sam Harper And Thomas Rogers laid a solid foundation from the start, putting the Stars on the right track with a stable 30-team partnership. However, it was Webster who accelerated the innings, hitting boundaries at will and amassing 51 off just 31 balls to add momentum to the Stars’ innings.
Maxwell’s calm and collected innings at the end further stabilized the innings, allowing the Stars to post a massive 219/5. His masterful 76 not out off just 32 deliveries, punctuated by five boundaries and six sixes, showed his class and proved to be a game-changer. The Stars’ middle and lower order provided just enough firepower to set a formidable 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 hitters. Caleb Jewell And Ben McDermott. Steketee’s four-wicket haul helped derail the Hurricanes’ chase, as they never really recovered from those early setbacks.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
THE STARS ARE ALIGNED 💚
Upcoming finals #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
The stars needed 5 victories after 5 defeats to qualify… And Maxwell made one crazy move after another…
76*(32)
90(52)
58*(32)
20*(10)-arfan (@Im__Arfan) January 19, 2025
What a turnaround for the Melbourne Stars in the BBL. Five wins in a row after losing the first five matches and coming out of nowhere, they occupy 4th place in the standings. Great stuff from Marcus Stoinis and his team.@StarsBBL @BBL
– this cricket guy (@AlanMatthew7) January 19, 2025
What symmetry in this season for the Melbourne Stars!
And how good Glen Maxwell was!!! pic.twitter.com/1VEahghp0R
– Krishna Chaitanya (@k15h4n04) January 19, 2025
The Melbourne stars’ season and finals have a big Brisbane Lions feel to them. 0-5 and haven’t lost since.
I won’t win it, but great story 👏🏼
– Darcy W. ✍️ (@darcywells2k18) January 19, 2025
A breathtaking turnaround!
After losing their first five matches, the Melbourne Stars won five in a row to qualify for the championship. #BBL14 knockouts! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/ohOBPNGs39
– Meme Doctor (@IndiaCricArmy) January 19, 2025
Melbourne Stars in this BBL 2025:
First 5 matches – 5 losses, 0 wins.
Last 5 matches – 5 wins, 0 losses.– Melbourne is doing the same thing as RCB in IPL 2024 and now Melbourne stars have QUALIFIED for the playoffs in this BBL. 🤯🥶 pic.twitter.com/uhA25g8FQv
– Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) January 19, 2025
OUR #BBL14 the season is coming to an end 🧡 Thank you to all our #MADE Members and fans for your incredible support throughout the season! 🏟️🔥 pic.twitter.com/sTB0jS2OKZ
– Perth Scorchers (@ScorchersBBL) January 19, 2025
