Stars keep Playoff hopes alive with win over Sixers

The Melbourne Stars have extended their BBL winning streak to three matches in a row, beating the top-of-the-table Sydney Sixers by 16 runs on Thursday night in Melbourne.

Less than two weeks ago, the Stars were winless across their first fives games of the season, and hot favourites at PlayUp to finish last place in the 2024-25 BBL.

Now, they are just one point adrift of playoff contention, sitting in seventh place on six points, and paying $21 to win the title across most cricket bookmakers.

For the Sixers, their form could not be more different.

They began the season winning four in a row, but since the turn of the year are winless over their past three matches (two losses, one no result).

Lacklustre batting was again the source of their downfall against Melbourne on Thursday, with the side sinking to 9/140 in response to the Star’s first-innings total of 5/156.

Glenn Maxwell (58* from 32) was largely responsible for the home side posting a competitive score, with the Australian all-rounder coming in at the halfway point of the match and carrying his bat.

He found company from Beau Webster (48 from 41) for the majority of his innings, while Ben Duckett (20 from 14) chipped in with a handy cameo at the top of the order too.

The Sixers started strong enough in their chase, with opener James Vince making a half-century (53 from 44) and first-drop Kurtis Patterson striking a run-a-ball 18.

However, wickets fell regularly through the middle order as Sydney lost their way, with pacer Mark Steketee taking 3/14.

It was left to Sydney’s bowlers to finish the job, which they were unable to do, falling 16 runs short in a fascinatingly tight contest.

“It was extraordinary,” player-of-the-match Maxwell said afterwards.

“Sometimes wickets like that make far better games, I reckon it’s not always the flat wicket, it’s sort of pretty crazy, but a finish like that was so good.

“Thank God we created enough opportunities to get the job done.”

With a playoff spot in sight after a poor start to the season, Maxwell revealed that his team is optimistic about their chances.

“To have that win keeps just in the hunt, sort of clawing our way along here,” he said.

“We’ll give it every chance but the feeling the group’s been really consistent the whole way through.

“We’ve kept coming out and trying our best to win games with cricket.

“Winning momentum is quite funny in T20 cricket, once you get on it, it’s really fun to be on.

“But we’ve probably been on the other side of it to start most seasons.

“So to be on that side of it winning now is really fun.”

Next up, the Stars take on fellow Melbourners the Renegades, with a win potentially moving them inside the top four.

Big Bash bookies have the Stars as favourites heading into the match on Sunday, paying $1.82 for them to win.

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