Big Bash League LIVE: Stars in major strife as Stoinis and Maxwell perish in tense run chase
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Two in two balls: Sangha strikes as Maxwell gone for 28
Absolute scenes in Sydney.
Glenn Maxwell is walking off ENGIE Stadium after top edging a ball off leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha. He’s out for 28.
The youngster looked nervous under the return catch but managed to snaffle it in his chest.
The home crowd go wild. Huge, huge wicket.
Stars 5-68, require 68 runs in 46 balls.
WICKET! Another. Tom Curran hits one straight to cover. Out first ball. Disaster. All happening. Are we witnessing another Stars flop? Sangha is on fire.
Screamer of a catch removes Stoinis
Marcus Stoinis has to go after a brilliant piece of fielding from Garton in the deep.
Dives forward and takes a ripping catch low in front. Stoinis hit that very hard.
Exactly what the Thunder need. They’d love to go bang-bang.
Fascinating to see what Maxwell does. Will he knock it around more conservatively? Or continue to play aggressively?
I reckon he’ll try and take the match as deep as possible and hope he can get support around him. Blockbuster finish in store.
Stars require 71 from 52 balls (Maxwell 27)
Stars require 75 runs off 10 overs
Marcus Stoinis survives a very close LBW shout. Replays showed it was just going over the top. On this deck? Interesting.
Without stating the obvious, the Thunder need a breakthrough in the next three or four overs.
Stars 3-61 after nine overs, require 75 off 60 balls (Maxwell 25, Stoinis 13)
Maxwell cracks three boundaries in a row
A quality opening over from Thunder leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha. Getting great shape and making sure the ball is getting above the batsman’s eyeline. Just two runs from his first six balls.
Maxwell now cracks a switch hit off Tom Andrews. Goes with the spin and works it down to the vacant third man region.
Again. Same shot. Probably even better. Another four. Gorgeous T20 batting. Three or four good overs of Maxwell at the crease and it could be goodnight.
Another four from Maxwell, this time into the leg side. 15 off the over. Superb batting.
Stars 3-44 off seven overs
Handscomb out as Stars slump to 3-27
We have a game on our hands.
Pete Handscomb survives a close LBW but his luck runs out next ball as he is adjudged out to Tom Andrews. Made 11 from 15 balls.
Tries to sweep one but the ball hits his thigh. Looked out. No review.
Glenn Maxwell walks to the crease with his Stars side needing 109 runs in 85 balls. Set up perfectly for a Maxwell clinic.
Thunder players are up and about. Rightly so. They’ve had excellent energy across the first five overs.
The Thunder are up and about. Credit: Getty Images
Handscomb edges one but no one appeals
Bizarre scenes as Pete Handscomb smashes a delivery (well, not quite smashed, but off the edge) through to wicketkeeper Sam Billings.
The Thunder don’t appeal but on radio and TV it sounded like an edge.
Replays confirm there was bat on ball. Handscomb hits the last ball of the over for four, a delicate late cut down to a fine third man. The big screen is now showing it.
OUT. Tom Rogers skies one. Gone for 1. McAndrew has his second wicket. Funny game!
Stars 2-8 after 2.2 overs (target 136)
Harper gone in the first over trying to ramp
Sammy Harper wastes no time getting on top of the Thunder by whipping Nathan McAndrew into the leg side for a boundary. Backs it up with another two runs.
OUT. McAndrew has the last laugh, bowling Harper as he tries to ramp a ball over fine leg. Dismissal looks horrible but that’s the way he plays.
Stars 1-6 after three balls.
Stars on top as Thunder post 7-135
The Sydney Thunder have scraped their way to a moderate total of 7-135 at the end of 19 overs. Keep in mind an over was lost due to lightning.
The last ball of the innings goes for six, with Tom Andrew clubbing one into the leg side. Showing himself to be a promising lower order batsman.
Warner’s duck was a disaster and Ollie Davies needed better support.
Tom Curran (2-26) and Usama Mir (2-26) were the best of the bowlers.
The Stars will be quietly confident of getting the job done.
Thunder in trouble at 7-118
Ollie Davies can’t strike any more lusty blows as Peter Handscomb takes a simple catch in the outfield at long-off.
The youngster perishes for 36 off 35 balls – the highest score of the innings. Tommy Curran takes the wicket.
Not ideal for the Thunder. The Stars in the box seat to play the Sixers at the SCG on Friday.
Nathan McAndrew of the Thunder in the middle. Credit: Getty Images
Chris Green departs as well
Major trouble brewing for the Thunder as Chris Green skies an easy catch to make his way back to the sheds for three off three balls.
It’s a cardinal sin to be bowled out in a game like this. Not saying the Thunder will, but there’s a chance.
Tough predicament for Ollie Davies (29 off 28). Does he go the tonk or try and take it as deep as possible?
6-105 after 15.2 overs
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