Stars favourites for BBL wooden spoon after back-to-back losses

After two losses in four days to begin their BBL campaign, the Melbourne Stars are now favourites to finish bottom of the table this season.

Cricket betting sites have the Stars at $3.75 to claim the wooden spoon — and a long $15 to win the title — after they were soundly beaten by the Brisbane Heat on Wednesday in Melbourne.

Melbourne batted first but were unable to post an imposing total, stuttering their way to 6/162 from their 20 overs.

They started well, with opener Joe Clarke (32 from 23) getting early runs at the expense of Tom Whitney in the second over.

However, after Thomas Rogers (1 from 4) fell on the first ball of the third over, the Stars’ run rate slowed significantly, despite Sam Harper going on to make 46 runs from 36 balls.

Captain Marcus Stoinis (26 from 17) and Beau Webster (28 from 19) made useful contributions, but ultimately the Heat bowlers kept the home side in check, with Xavier Bartlett’s 3/25 particularly impressive.

Set a target of 163 to win, Brisbane started tentatively but built well to win easily with eight wickets and 11 balls remaining.

Jimmy Peirson (72 from 56) and Max Bryant (36 from 22) did the majority of the heavy lifting in the chase, while Jack Wood (27 from 21) and Matt Renshaw (18 from 10) also chipped in.

“The basics were really good,” Peirson said after his player-of-the-match performance.

“Our bowling was not good that much last year so it was obviously a red flag.

“But I was backing the team to restrict them under 160.

“We had a good side, and the target was good too.

“They’re all pleased to get down, a little bit scratchy but we’ve got down there.

“We knew the basics would get the job done.”

The Stars are back in action on Friday, December 20, when they take on the Strikers at Adelaide Oval.

Big Bash bookmakers have them as $2 underdogs heading into the clash, despite Adelaide also being winless so far in 2024.

Sports news