Maxwell’s Half-Century Powers Melbourne Stars to Victory

Glenn Maxwell’s scintillating half-century powered the Melbourne Stars to a 16-run victory over the Sydney Sixers in a gripping BBL encounter at the MCG on Thursday (January 9). This triumph marked the Stars’ third consecutive win after enduring five straight losses, lifting them off the bottom of the table. Maxwell, overlooked for Australia’s Test series against Sri Lanka, silenced his critics with a blazing unbeaten 32-ball 58, studded with five fours and three sixes, guiding the Stars to a competitive total of 156/5.

The Stars’ bowlers complemented Maxwell’s heroics with a disciplined effort that stifled the Sixers, restricting them to 140/9 despite James Vince’s fighting 44-ball 53. Mark Steketee was the pick of the bowlers with impressive figures of 3-14, while Marcus Stoinis, Usama Mir, and Peter Siddle chipped in with two wickets each. Their collective effort ensured the Sixers struggled to build momentum, falling short despite a spirited performance by Vince in the middle overs.

Earlier in the game, Ben Duckett gave the Stars a flying start, smashing a six and a four off Akeal Hosein in the opening over. However, the momentum faltered as wickets tumbled at regular intervals. Beau Webster attempted to anchor the innings, but a lack of support from the other end, including Stoinis’s dismissal at a crucial juncture, left the Stars reeling at 64/4 at the halfway mark. Maxwell’s late surge proved decisive, ensuring his side had enough runs to defend in a tightly contested match.

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Maxwell’s Blitz and Stars’ Bowlers Secure Victory

The tide turned for the Melbourne Stars with the arrival of Glenn Maxwell, who made an immediate impact by smashing a six off Ben Dwarshuis on just his second delivery. Maxwell’s aggressive intent invigorated the innings, and the boundaries began to flow. A pivotal 13th over saw Maxwell hit two fours and Beau Webster strike a six off Sean Abbott, yielding 19 runs. The onslaught continued in the 14th over, with Maxwell hammering a six and a four off Dwarshuis. Maxwell reached his half-century in style, bringing up the milestone with a six in the 18th over. By then, the Stars had surged to 147/4, setting themselves up for a strong finish.

However, the Sixers bowlers executed a brilliant comeback in the final two overs to stall the Stars’ momentum. Abbott dismissed Webster for 48 in a tidy 19th over, which yielded only a single run as Hilton Cartwright was tied down with four dot balls. Hayden Kerr followed it up with a disciplined final over, conceding just seven runs and a leg-bye, as the Sixers managed to restrict the Stars to 156/5, denying them a boundary in the last 15 deliveries of the innings.

The Stars bowlers took control early in the Sixers’ chase, keeping the scoring in check. Mark Steketee removed Josh Philippe, and the Sixers were limited to just 27 runs in the first four overs. James Vince and Kurtis Patterson steadied the innings with a steady partnership, but Usama Mir broke through by dismissing Patterson, slowing the Sixers’ momentum. Vince led the charge, guiding the Sixers to 90/2 after 13 overs, and brought up his fifty off 42 balls during the power surge, keeping the chase alive.

The Stars, however, struck back decisively in the crucial overs. Marcus Stoinis triggered a collapse by removing Vince and Moises Henriques in quick succession, while Peter Siddle and Usama dismantled the middle order. Jordan Silk and Jack Edwards fell cheaply, leaving the Sixers reeling at 112/6. Although Hayden Kerr fought back with a quick 21 off 15, the equation of 28 runs required off the last two overs proved insurmountable. Siddle and Steketee bowled brilliantly in the death, conceding just eight runs while taking three wickets to seal a 16-run victory for the Stars.

Shami’s Return Likely; Akash Deep Sidelined

Pacer Mohammed Shami is poised to make a return to the Indian team for the upcoming series against England and potentially for the Champions Trophy. Shami, sidelined since the World Cup final in November 2023, has recently resumed playing white-ball cricket and is expected to be available for selection. According to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Shami underwent surgery on his right heel and was later sidelined due to minor knee swelling, which ruled him out of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He has since played a few Vijay Hazare Trophy games for Bengal and is slated to feature in the pre-quarterfinal against Haryana in Baroda.

The National Cricket Academy (NCA) medical team has been closely monitoring Shami’s recovery. Reports indicate that he is being accompanied by an NCA physio or trainer during his matches to ensure proper oversight. Shami was earlier seen in action at the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy in Rajkot and was most recently monitored in Hyderabad, alongside Hardik Pandya. The selection committee is expected to attend the Vijay Hazare Trophy knockout stages in Baroda to evaluate Shami’s form, with early feedback suggesting that his bowling remains sharp and relatively trouble-free. However, final clearance from the NCA is mandatory for his recall.

Meanwhile, Akash Deep, another promising pacer, is unlikely to feature in the white-ball series against England due to back pain. The injury, which forced him to miss the fifth Test against Australia at the SCG, is expected to keep him sidelined for at least a month. Akash Deep, who has yet to make his white-ball debut, was emerging as a strong contender for the England series, particularly in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. Both experienced pacers are being rested to recover from the extensive workload they shouldered during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where each bowled over 150 overs.

Jasprit Bumrah’s availability for the Champions Trophy remains uncertain, with the selectors awaiting updates from the NCA. Bumrah, who suffered back spasms during the SCG Test, will require medical clearance before returning to action. The spearhead is expected to report to the NCA soon, with hopes that he will regain full fitness ahead of the Champions Trophy, scheduled from February 19 to March 9. The BCCI is keen to ensure that Bumrah’s rehabilitation process is thorough, as he remains a crucial part of India’s plans for upcoming tournaments.

The selection committee is set to convene around the BCCI AGM on January 12 to finalize squads for the twin white-ball series against England and a provisional squad for the Champions Trophy. England’s tour of India includes five T20Is and three ODIs, running from January 22 to February 12. With multiple players under injury management and selection scrutiny, the upcoming weeks will be critical in shaping India’s squads for these high-stakes encounters.

Chahal Out for Haryana; Easwaran Boosts Bengal

The Bengal team management has confirmed that Abhimanyu Easwaran will be available for Thursday’s Vijay Hazare Trophy pre-quarterfinal against Haryana. Easwaran, who was part of the Indian team in Australia, had his return advanced by a day to ensure his participation in Bengal’s first knockout game. The opener has already arrived in Baroda, providing a significant boost to Bengal’s batting lineup as they aim for a strong performance in the tournament’s later stages.

Haryana, on the other hand, will be without their white-ball specialist Yuzvendra Chahal. The defending champions face a key challenge in the absence of the experienced leg-spinner, who has been in the spotlight recently due to a personal crisis. However, the Haryana Cricket Association (HCA) clarified that Chahal’s exclusion from the squad was purely a cricketing decision and unrelated to his personal matters. This decision leaves Haryana without one of their primary bowling options in a high-stakes encounter.

The match is set to be a compelling clash, with Bengal strengthened by Easwaran’s timely availability and Haryana needing to compensate for Chahal’s absence. Both teams will look to bring their best game to advance further in the prestigious domestic competition.

“We have made this decision in consultation with him, as we aim to groom a few youngsters with an eye on the future,” the HCA official explained. “Parth Vats, a leg-spin all-rounder, is the player we are introducing at this stage.”