That's all for today. Until next time, this is Rvel Zahid, signing off on behalf of our team. Take care and enjoy the holidays!

Tom Curran, Player of the Match: New ball, important over, trying to set the tone...haven't done too much of it in my white ball career. I tend to bowl when it's harder, there was swing on offer and lucky. Felt like we got a lot of bases covered, quality of Haris Rauf at the end, and Peter Siddle bowling unbelievably so yeah. (on Siddle) I couldn't have enough words to say about Siddle, example for any young player, great man, and unbelievable performance, hopefully he can continue, he is a massive weapon for us. I think we had a bit easier preparation this year, getting a win obviously helps and get back and pick from there helps too

In the end, it was a comfortable win for Melbourne Stars. They restricted the Adelaide Strikers to a modest 155 for 8, and the pacers, alongside Swepson, stymied the run flow effectively. Haris Rauf picked up three wickets and was miserly in his spell, using slower balls and cutters to great effect. Tom Curran set the tone by picking early wickets in the powerplay, including a double-wicket over early on, which put Strikers on the back foot. Short got a fifty but got out at the wrong time, and the late surge and impetus were lacking. In reply, Sam Harper's fifty and Campbell's 28 broke the back of the chase. There was a tricky phase, but Stoinis rose to the occasion, and his 32 off 22 got his team over the line. Another confidence-boosting win! Stars have a balanced line-up, the momentum, and they are a side to be reckoned with in this competition.

Sam : "so incredibly irresponsible putting the young man under that kind of pressure.... poor captaincy I feel"