STA VS REN MATCH 23

Right then, another big game in the Big Bash League has gone by, providing plenty of entertainment for the fans as well and now, it is time to look forward to Super Sunday. It will be high-flying Hobart Hurricanes taking on Adelaide Strikers at the Bellerive Oval, Hobart on December 5. That contest will begin at 8.15 am GMT but you can join us early for the build-up as well. Cheers!

Ben Duckett is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his breezy knock of 67 from 49 balls. Duckett says the first half of the innings was good but got a bit stuck after that. Praises Cartwright and Maxwell for getting them over the line. Adds that Stoinis took the pressure off him and it was hard for the new batters to find boundaries but Cartwright was awesome. Mentions that the crowd was good and he is trying to keep his ego out. Says that he wants to stick to things that work for him. Ends by saying that, they still believe and if they continue the winning momentum, anything can happen.

The Presentation ceremony...

Marcus Stoinis opted to field and his troops answered right away with a couple of early wickets and they managed to keep the runs in check for the first half of the innings as well. But then, the runs came pouring in and the Stars failed to pick up many wickets before the death overs. It was a good wicket to bat on but the home side had their top-order woes as well. Ben Duckett though simply kept his head down and played his shots and once Marcus Stoinis joined the party, it seemed like the pair would finish things off in a hurry. Duckett and Stoinis both fell in the Power Surge, leaving the onus on Glenn Maxwell and he didn't disappoint after which Hilton Cartwright hit a mammoth 121-meter six in the final over and finished things off in style to round off the highest-ever chase in a Melbourne Derby.

After being inserted into bat, the Renegades huffed and puffed in the first half of their innings and were 63/3 at the end of the 10th over. It was then a stand between Jonathan Wells and Jacob Bethell worth 71 runs that eventually took them close to the 170 mark. With the ball, it was Gurinder Sandhu who on his return to Big Bash cricket led the charge for the Renegades and had the opposition reeling at 2 for 3. However, there wasn't much support from the other end and they were belted away in the middle overs before sparking a late comeback. The Surge too went in their favor but the firepower of the opposition's batting order was just too much.

'The Melbourne Derby' ladies and gentlemen! Two city rivals coming up against each other in a crucial contest, desperate for a win for different reasons and in the end, it is Melbourne Stars who make it a second win on the trot to keep their campaign alive as Melbourne Renegades succumb to a third straight defeat and keep falling down the table.

FOUR! Hilton Cartwright finishes things off in style! Tom Rogers lands this back of a length and on middle. Hilton Cartwright stays back and pulls it away finding the gap between deep square leg and deep mid-wicket for a boundary. Melbourne Stars win by 5 wickets!

SIX! MONSTER HIT! Hilton Cartwright, you beauty! Tom Rogers misses the yorker by some distance and bowls this in the slot, on middle. HC stays deep inside his crease and dispatches it high and handsomely over the long on fence for a biggie. 121 METERS! The biggest of the night! 2 needed in 3 balls now!

Another good yorker, on leg, Glenn Maxwell swipes it off the inside half of the bat through square leg for a run. 8 needed in 4 now!

Right in the blockhole, on middle, Hilton Cartwright jams it out to deep mid-wicket for a single.

10 to win from the last over! It's going down to the wire in the 'Melbourne Derby.' Tom Rogers will be entrusted with the ball in the final over. Can he defend 9 runs?

Change of pace, on a length and on middle, Glenn Maxwell nudges it with soft hands towards deep mid-wicket and gets back for the second run. 10 runs needed in the last over!

Short again and on middle, Hilton Cartwright pulls it to deep mid-wicket for one.

A bouncer now, on middle and leg, Hilton Cartwright looks to pull but misses. The umpire signals a wide as he thinks it is going over the head of the batter. Harsh call!

Short of a length and on middle, Glenn Maxwell pulls it to deep square leg for one.

SIX! Maxi connects this time alright! Pitched up again and around middle. Glenn Maxwell this time gets right underneath the ball and nails the reverse scoop over the keeper's head for a biggie. 15 need in 9 now!

Gurinder Sandhu goes fuller and on middle and leg, Glenn Maxwell goes for the reverse ramp but misses.