Phew, what a game we've had at the MCG! Melbourne Stars take the win to keep their campaign alive, while Sydney Sixers have now lost two out of their three games, with one being a washout. With this result, the Sixers drop to second place on the points table, while the Melbourne Stars climb a spot in the 8-team standings.
That's it from us. This is Ajay Pal Singh signing off on behalf of my colleagues, Akshay Bhide and Manish Bishnoi. Goodbye.
Glenn Maxwell (Player of the Match): "Pretty extraordinary. It wasn’t a flat wicket but great to get the win in the end. We stayed in the game till the last moment.
To be fair, I probably played and missed a few. Fortunately, I kept on going and got to cash in. You need little bit of luck. Few dropped catches and we grabbed a few to get over the line.
(On that catch) It was pretty high. I knew it wasn’t going to come in clean. I tried to stay in the ground and I didn’t have to move much. To be honest, it was a big wicket. James Vince has had great success against the Stars previously and it was just great to get him.
We will give us every chance. We have kept the faith and kept a smile on the face. Momentum is funny in T20 cricket. To be on that side of it is lovely."
Player of the Match: Glenn Maxwell
Most runs for Sydney
Sixers: 3134 – Moises Henriques (142 matches) 2413 – Josh Philippe (95 matches) 2299 – Jordan Silk (130 matches) 2186 – Daniel Hughes (93 matches) 2013 – James Vince
(73 matches)
5:11 PM IST & 10:41 PM Local Time: That's it. Melbourne Stars live to fight another day. They keep their season alive with a 16-run win over Sydney Sixers. Glenn Maxwell set it up with the bat and then the bowlers came to the party to restrict a power-packed Sixers line-up to 140/9. James Vince, at one stage, looked like taking the game away from the Stars but once he perished, it all went downhill for the Sixers.
Earlier in the game, Melbourne Stars were put into bat by the Sixers and they posted 156/5 from their quota of 20 overs. Sam Harper fell cheaply but Ben Duckett was once again solid at the top, scoring 20 off 14 to give his side a flying start.
Beau Webster looked scratchy in the middle and despite getting a reprieve when Jack Edwards overstepped on the fourth ball of the 17th over. He perished for 48 off 41. Glenn Maxwell was at his absolute best, remaining unbeaten on 58 off 32 to take the Stars to a competitive total.
Sean Abbott picked up three wickets while Jack Edwards and Hayden Kerr bagged one apiece.
In reply, the Sixers lost Josh Philippe early in the piece. Kurtis Patterson made 18 and added 34 runs for the second wicket with James Vince. The middle-order faltered once Vince fell in the 14th over. Hayden Kerr showed some fight down the order, with a knock of 21 off 15.
Mark Steketee picked up three wickets while Peter Siddle, Usama Mir, and Marcus Stoinis bagged two wickets each to keep the Sixers to 140, getting a crucial win. With this victory, Stars move to 7th on the points table.
OVER 20
Sydney Sixers
140/9
Akeal Hosein
0(1)
Todd Murphy
1(2)
Mark Steketee
3-14(3.0)
19.6 M Steketee to T Murphy
1 On a length around leg, 130.9 kmph, Murphy hits it aerially towards long on where Duckett stops it on a bounce. The Melbourne Stars keep themselves alive in the competition as they beat the Sydney Sixers by 16 runs.