Wes Agar and Rashid Khan trip up the Stars
The Strikers move to third place, while the opponents slip into strife
The Strikers move to third place, while the opponents slip into strife
Commentator: Matt Roller
That's all from us tonight. Thanks for tuning in, and check out Alex Malcolm's report which will be live shortly. Cheers!
Glenn Maxwell is speaking to Channel 7: "They were brilliant. They scrapped hard all night. We just missed a few times at the end there and they were able to get hold of us. [NCN absence] He's an important cog in our team, batting No. 7 and offering overs up front, through the middle and at the death. It's a handy package to be missing, also with Marcus Stoinis not bowling at the moment. [Fletcher] He's been hitting the ball so well and getting starts in every game but something seems to happen. He hasn't got a lot of luck. When you're finding every possible way to get out, it can compound itself. I'm sure he'd like some runs. Great for Nic Maddinson to get some time out in the middle. [Re-match vs Strikers on Friday] We're looking forward to that home stretch, making the MCG our home fortress. We see how bunched up it is in the middle. You get a win with a bonus point, and with the top five [going through] it gives you an opportunity."
Alex Carey on Channel 7: "Very pleasing. Hopefully we can start building some momentum. [Gibson] Good again tonight. Great to see him take ownership of the last five overs and Wells played a good little cameo as well. He's worked really hard in the nets. [Rashid absence] It's going to be interesting, we love playing with Rash. It's a big hole to fill but Liam O'Connor is pretty keen to get out there at the MCG. We'll see him off tonight. Everyone loves playing with him and watching him here. [Siddle injury] Frankie Worrall was great tonight with the new ball and Harry Conway was really effective as well. It's going to give guys an opportunity to put their hand up. It would be great to start stringing some wins together. We're still trying to find our best cricket."
Wes Agar is player of the match and is asked by Channel 7 to explain his excellent season: "It's simplicity in my game. I'm maturing as a player and understanding that sometimes less is more. I'm backing my strength which is the hard-length ball. I was really proud of the boys tonight. We played our roles really well. It's a really proud game to win, because we worked so hard behind the scenes knowing Sidds [the injured Peter Siddle] wasn't going to be there. [Rashid leaving?] So sad, we're shattered. I told him today: 'mate, I'm going to miss you.' He brings joy and happiness to the group and so much success on the field."
9.55pm: That was pure, unadulterated Big Bash. The Stars always looked short of par on a decent surface, but they scrapped so hard to defend it. They back-loaded their bowling attack, saving Rauf, Hatcher and Zampa for the end of the innings, and stole the Bash Boost bonus point after putting the squeeze on following Salt's dismissal. Carey decided to take on the reverse-sweep needing 3 off the last ball of the 10th for the bonus point, but picked out the diving Nic Maddinson, and from there it was game on. The rate continued to climb, not least when Zampa bowled a superb first Power Surge over, but Jon Wells tucked into Haris Rauf to send the required rate tumbling back down, and Ryan Gibson thrashed a couple of boundaries to seal the win!
Just two required
9 off 10. One boundary should be enough.
The Strikers move to third place, while the opponents slip into strife
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