Melbourne Stars win last-ball thriller after Kevin Pietersen and Glenn Maxwell share century stand

Kevin Pietersen’s 120-run stand with Glenn Maxwell proved just enough as Melbourne Stars beat Melbourne Renegades by three wickets on the final ball in a tense finale at the MCG.

The pair’s partnership appeared to have set up a straightforward third win in a row for the Stars, who were cruising at 134-2 in pursuit of 154 with just under five overs to go.

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But Maxwell’s demise for 67 off 44 balls prompted a collapse that saw five wickets fall for 19 runs, including two run outs in the final over that left the Stars needing one off the final ball.

In dramatic scenes, Tim Triffitt struck the ball to short mid-on where Callum Ferguson reverse flicked the ball towards the stumps which were broken with the batsman well short of his crease.

But after analysing the replays extensively third umpire Geoff Joshua ruled that it was bowler Nathan Rimmington who had in fact disturbed the wicket, rather than the ball, meaning the run stood and the victory belonged to the Stars.

Defeat was tough on the Renegades, who opted to bat first after being bowled out for just 57 by their local rivals earlier in the competition.

Matthew Wade’s 71 off 49 balls was the standout knock of their innings after skipper Aaron Finch fell for just 12, caught by Pietersen at mid-off as he sought to strike Jackson Bird over the off side.

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Ferguson added 15 off nine balls before falling lbw to Maxwell (1-25), the wicket bringing in Ben Stokes for his second Big Bash knock.

However the Englishman was unable to repeat his debut heroics, when he struck 77 off just 37 deliveries against Hobart Hurricanes, making 14 off 15 balls before he became one of James Faulkner’s three victims.

The all-rounder backed away to leg aiming to penetrate the covers but struck the ball too close to Cameron White, who pouched a good diving catch.

Wade reached his second BBL fifty off 35 balls by running Boland down to the third man rope and he found a solid ally in Tom Beaton, who struck 34 off 29 balls.

Luke Wright fell early at the top of the chase, miscuing a pull to Stokes at midwicket, and when skipper White was bowled leg stump one ball after swatting Shakib Al Hasan for six the Stars were wobbling at 14-2.

But with Australia due to name their World Cup squad on Sunday, Maxwell made a timely return to form and together with Pietersen (49 off 49 balls) upped the rate, taking 18 off Stokes’ first over – Maxwell collecting six over fine leg and Pietersen picking up two fours, the second a thumping drive down the ground.

Pietersen finished the seventh over with a switch-hit for six off Ahmed to take the stars to 58-2 before Maxwell posted his third BBL fifty off 28 balls with a 91-metre six over long on off Peter Siddle’s bowling.

The pair brought up their 100 partnership off 70 balls and seemed destined to see the job through only for Maxwell to be bowled aiming to heave Fawad Ahmed over midwicket.

Pietersen fell with just 10 runs needed, miscuing a pull off Stokes, who then picked up his second wicket in as many balls as James Faulkner cut straight to point.

With the tension building the Stars needed six runs to win off the final over bowled by Rimmington and with three balls left Alex Keath was run out going for the winning run.

John Hastings then went without facing a ball, run out at the non-striker’s end by Rimmington as Tom Triffitt drilled the ball back to the bowler. That left the scores tide and amid chaotic scenes Triffitt just scrambled home to earn the Stars two precious points.

Our coverage of the Big Bash League continues at 8am on Sunday when Brisbane Heat take on Sydney Sixers at the Gabba – live on Sky Sports 2.