Adelaide Strikers Edge Melbourne Stars by 15 Runs in Big Bash 2024
The Melbourne Stars' struggles in the Big Bash 2024 continued as they suffered their third consecutive defeat, losing to the Adelaide Strikers by 15 runs at the Adelaide Oval. Chasing a target of 166, the Stars were restricted to 150/9, thanks to a brilliant match-winning spell of 3 for 21 from Lloyd Pope, who made a strong comeback after a tough start to the series.
Opting to bowl, the Strikers were on the back foot early as Adam Milne was hit for six in his first over. However, Milne bounced back in his second over, claiming the wicket of Strikers captain Matthew Short. Despite this, D'Arcy Short took control, hitting three boundaries off Milne and adding more pressure in the next few overs. The Strikers raced to 50/1 in the first five overs, with D'Arcy Short leading the charge.
Even as Glenn Maxwell claimed the wicket of Jake Weatherald, D'Arcy continued to punish the bowlers, especially left-arm orthodox spinner Doug Warren, taking two boundaries in quick succession. He reached his 50 off 33 balls and continued his onslaught. However, a spectacular catch by Ben Duckett removed D'Arcy for 60, after a powerful shot that was plucked from the air.
Alex Ross and James Bazley kept the scoreboard ticking with some quick runs, as Curran struggled with the ball, conceding 46 runs without a wicket. The Strikers finished strong, scoring 40 runs in the final four overs to reach 165/6 in their 20 overs.
In reply, the Stars' chase got off to a disastrous start with debutant Duckett dismissed for a golden duck by Matthew Short. Marcus Stoinis quickly recovered, smashing boundaries, but a sudden collapse followed. Stoinis was bowled by legspinner Cameron Boyce, and Maxwell was dismissed LBW by Henry Thornton. The Stars lost four crucial wickets in their first 10 overs, scoring just 23 runs between overs 7-11.
Sam Harper stood firm with a fighting 48, but wickets continued to tumble around him. Beau Webster fell to a glove catch, and Harper was eventually bowled by Pope. Despite Tom Curran's late resistance, hitting a couple of boundaries, the Stars' hopes faded as they required 41 runs off the last three overs. Milne fell to Pope in the 18th over, and Curran was dismissed in the penultimate over. Matthew Short wrapped up the win for the Strikers, bowling the final over to seal a 15-run victory.
