BBL|14 [Twitter reactions]: Glenn Maxwell leads Melbourne Stars into playoffs with win over Hobart Hurricanes
The Melbourne Stars secured a place in the playoffs Big Bash League 2024/25 with a comprehensive 40 run win over Hobart Hurricanes. Glenn Maxwell he was named man of the match for his incredible knocks of 76 not out.
Top-flight Hobart Hurricanes face defeat
After electing to bat first, the Stars posted an incredible 219/5 in their 20 overs, thanks to Beau Webster’s aggressive 51 off 31 deliveries and contributions from Maxwell, who top scored with an unbeaten 76 off 32 balls. The Stars showed their batting depth, with Hilton Cartwright and Marcus Stoinis also chipped in with crucial runs. In reply, the Hurricanes struggled to chase the target, slumping to 179/10 in 19.3 overs. Mark Steketee he was Stars’ main destroyer, taking four wickets for just 24 runs, with support Usama Mir and Tom Curran who bagged two wickets each. Despite Tim David’s quick-fire 40 off 22 balls, the Hurricanes failed to maintain the required pace, losing wickets at regular intervals, leading to their downfall.
BBL 14 journey ends for Perth Scorchers
This win not only pushed the Stars to fourth place in the points table, but also kept their unbeaten streak intact, with five consecutive wins now securing the playoffs. Despite the loss, the Hurricanes remained at the top of the table with 15 points, but they missed the chance to increase their lead. This result not only highlights the Stars’ resurgence in the league, but also marks a significant setback for the Hurricanes, who will now look to regroup ahead of the playoffs. With this win, the Stars now face Sydney Thunder in the ‘knockout’ round on January 22, determined to extend their journey further in the competition. Meanwhile Perth Scorchers the trip ended in a tournament loss to the Hurricanes.
An all-out performance from the Melbourne Stars proved too much for the Hurricanes
In the 40th match of BBL 14 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Stars put on a scintillating display with both bat and ball, setting a daunting target of 220 runs for the Hurricanes. Sam Harper and Thomas Rogers he laid a solid foundation early on, setting the Stars on track with a steady 30-run partnership. However, it was Webster who paced the innings, hitting boundaries at will and amassing 51 off just 31 balls to inject momentum into the Stars’ innings.
Maxwell’s calm and composed innings at the end further stabilized the innings, allowing the Stars to post a mammoth 219/5. His masterful 76 not out from just 32 deliveries, punctuated by five boundaries and six sixes, showed his class and proved to be a turning point. The Stars’ middle and lower order provided just enough firepower to pose a formidable target to the Hurricanes.
In terms of bowling, Stars kept the pressure on from the start with Steketee wreaking havoc in the powerplay, dismissing key batsmen Caleb Jewell and Ben McDermott. Steketee’s four-wicket haul was instrumental in ending the Hurricanes’ chase, as they never really recovered from those early setbacks.
Here’s how Twitter responded:
THE STARS HAVE SAT 💚
The finale ends #BBL14! #The sky is the limit pic.twitter.com/8LOFh76Bcn
— Melbourne Stars (@StarsBBL) January 19, 2025
Glenn Maxwell has done it AGAIN. #BBL14 pic.twitter.com/qedfcOY3eN
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 19, 2025
Glenn Maxwell has done it AGAIN. #BBL14 pic.twitter.com/qedfcOY3eN
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 19, 2025
