Sunday 27 December 2015 13:46, UK
Glenn Maxwell and Peter Handscomb shared a third-wicket stand of 83 in 10.2 overs to guide the Melbourne Stars to their first victory of BBL05, cruising past the Sydney Sixers by five wickets at a packed Sydney Cricket Ground.
Coming together with the Stars struggling slightly at 21-2 on a wicket taking plenty of turn, man-of-the-match Maxwell (50 off 36 balls) was his typically busy self without being belligerent as he moved to his 12th T20 half-century, while Handscomb showed his quality with an impressive showing of 52 in 40 balls.
It was hard going for the batsmen once Michael Beer (1-16) bowled the first over of the day after the Sixers won the toss and elected to bat first and indicated to his captain that spin was the way to go.
The left-armer removed the dangerous Michael Lumb and Maxwell snared Brad Haddin in the next over with just 18 on the board.
Nic Maddinson (25 off 21) started to rebuild the innings before crashing two sixes in successive balls off Maxwell at the end of the 10th over, but the Stars turned the screw once again and the Sixers didn't see the ball cross the boundary again for another six overs.
They were also hampered by the return of the calf injury to their captain Moises Henriques, who has been desperately blighted in 2015 and was looking in good touch with 41 in 34 balls before he was forced to retire hurt, pulling up as he set off for a single off Beer in the 13th over.
The Sixers' 139-6 in their 20 overs was certainly a reachable target and with the pitch taking turn, the home side would have been hopeful, especially once Marcus Stoinis was bowled third ball and Luke Wright struggled to 8 off 15 balls.
But Maxwell and Handscomb batted smartly before the Stars lost three wickets, including James Faulkner first ball, with victory in their grasp. But skipper David Hussey showed all his vast experience of 252 T20 matches by getting the Stars over the line with an unbeaten 24 off 15 balls.
"The spinners all did a brilliant job for us," said Maxwell, "and it gave us the platform to take the game on."
He also had a few words for his international team-mate Henriques. "I am shattered for him," he said. "Every time he gets a decent run, he gets struck down again and I wish him well for his recovery."
The Sixers have lost top spot in the BBL05 table to Sydney Thunder, who take on the Adelaide Strikers across the city at the Spotless Stadium - which can be seen live on Sky Sports 3 at 8am on Monday.
