All-round Maxwell lifts Melbourne Stars to fourth
He picked up three wickets and then scored an unbeaten 35 off 18 balls to take his side home in a rain-curtailed match
He picked up three wickets and then scored an unbeaten 35 off 18 balls to take his side home in a rain-curtailed match
Scorer: Sudeep Poojar | Commentator: Shashwat Kumar
10:45pm Right. That was pretty fun. Not quite the 40-overs-contest we thought we were in for at the start, but the game had a bit of everything - collapses, some scintillating batting, fiery bowling and the usual chaos that rain causes.
Hope you enjoyed our coverage as much as we loved bringing it to you. Until next time, this is me (Shashwat) signing off on behalf of Sudeep and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo. Goodbye and take care!
Glenn Maxwell is the Player of the Match, here is what he has to say: (On his bowling) My last four overs had gone for about 74, so was not too confident of bowling. A bit of rain helped my bowling, though. (On his batting) I was thinking of staying still and playing good cricket shots. But your mind sometimes switches off when the ball is coming at you and then I played that way for the first 8-9 balls. Once I was lucky to come through that phase, I got it sorted. (On winning two in a row) It has been a while. We were doing all the right things, talking about the right things. Means a lot going into the next game. (On getting struck on the left hand while bowling) I will ice it up and hopefully it will be right (for the next game). I feel I am playing as well as I have and it is a little frustrating that these niggles keep popping up. But we will see how it turns out.
10:40pm Phew, that was some game. A layer of intrigue was added to it with the run-chase being reduced to seven overs. The Stars then contributed to the drama by losing three wickets in no time, with Harper and Stoinis departing in the first over itself.
Maxwell, too, swung like a rusty gate at the start and was very fortunate to still be out there. Once he got his eye in, though, he did not give the Hurricanes a look-in, playing shots all around the dial and ensuring that the required run-rate did not get out of hand. Rogers played his role beautifully too, finishing 21 off 14, while Maxwell ended up with an unbeaten 35 off 18 balls.
The Hurricanes, apart from the franticness of the seven-over shootout, will probably look back at their batting innings and think they did not do enough. With the ball, too, Dooley and Jordan could not cash in on the early advantage Ellis and Meredith fashioned. The Hurricanes' next game sees them take on the SydneyThunder on New Year's Day, and they will hope for a much more concerted effort.
Point, backward point, short third man and short fine leg in the ring
Short third, backward point, extra cover and mid off in the circle
Anderson to bowl the final over. Over the wicket to Rogers. The Stars still well in control of this run-chase but funny things happen in the last over...
Four more needed now. Can Maxwell finish it with one blow?
He picked up three wickets and then scored an unbeaten 35 off 18 balls to take his side home in a rain-curtailed match