END OF OVER:20 | 2 Runs 1 Wkt | ST: 166/8 (29 runs required, RR: 8.30)
- Chris Tremain0 (3b)
- Nathan McAndrew1 (3b)
- Haris Rauf4-0-17-3
- Nathan Coulter-Nile4-0-29-2
Melbourne Stars into the final winning by 28 runs! The Stars will head to Sydney to face the Sixers and try for redemption if the rain holds off. The game was set up by Marcus Stoinis and Nick Larkin. Both men batted superbly for 83 and shared a 117-run stand. They had some luck but capitalised. The Thunder were sloppy in the field. The Stars were outstanding in the field by comparison. Nathan Coulter-Nile ran out Alex Hales and then knocked over Usman Khawaja. Then it was all Haris Rauf. He took 3 for 17 to ice the game.
Nick Larkin is Player of the Match for his 83 not out from 49. Larkin on Seven: "I had a bit of luck. Kept picking out the fielders early but Stoin kept me in the game and he was outstanding."
JUZER BATLIWALA: "What is the result if the final is rained off. Is the trophy shared ? Or do Stars win because of higher points during the league phase ? Or do Sixers win because they defeated Stars in the qualifier ??" The Sixers will win if it is rained off.
Roy: "Really good to see NCN back in the game. Could be key to have three excellent fit bowlers in the finals to match the Sixers' attack."
James: "You have to say that 3/17 off 4 is a stunning return for Haris Rauf."
Great performance by the Melbourne Stars. Thanks for your company from the MCG. Join us on Saturday night for the BBL final at the SCG between the Sydney Sixers and the Stars. Hopefully the weather holds off.
JS Lenton c Maddinson b Haris Rauf 10 (7b 1x4 0x6) SR: 142.85
END OF OVER:19 | 10 Runs 1 Wkt | ST: 164/7 (31 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 8.63, RRR: 31.00)
- Jay Lenton10 (6b)
- Nathan McAndrew0 (1b)
- Nathan Coulter-Nile4-0-29-2
- Haris Rauf3-0-16-2
Farooq: "How valuable is that Wonder Boy haris ... "
JB: "Before we crucify CA note that forecasters can be wrong. There was supposed to be 20mm of rain in Sydney today but only 1mm fell at Randwick nearest guage to SCG"
AB: "Maxwell said on his mic that he doesn't dare face Rauf in the nets. If Maxwell is refusing to face Rauf, the who does he actually ball to in the nets? " A lot of target bowling
Kev: "Hats off to Maxwell's captaincy throughout this BBL. He's really been on his feet all along with the use of his bowlers!"
DR Sams c Larkin b Coulter-Nile 3 (6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00
Coulter-Nile
END OF OVER:18 | 3 Runs | ST: 154/6 (41 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 8.55, RRR: 20.50)
- Daniel Sams3 (5b)
- Jay Lenton1 (2b)
- Haris Rauf3-0-16-2
- Adam Zampa4-0-43-2
AB: "Quite unexpectedly, Thunders' middle-order has given a fight to what at one point looked like a lost cause. They will go out with their heads held high!"
Usama Mukhtar: "How good was the move by Maxwell to bowl Zampa at this stage with 2 set batsmen on the crease." Brave
Haris Rauf to bowl two of the last three
END OF OVER:17 | 16 Runs 2 Wkts | ST: 151/6 (44 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.88, RRR: 14.66)
- Daniel Sams1 (1b)
- Jay Lenton0 (0b)
- Adam Zampa4-0-43-2
- Nathan Coulter-Nile3-0-20-1
MoonVale: "Thats game right there. Lenton hasn't been a quick scorer, and Sams is out of form with the bat. Now it's just how much the Stars win by."
AJ Nair c Handscomb b Zampa 30 (17b 3x4 2x6) SR: 176.47
