The 19th T20 match of KFC Big Bash League was played between Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Stars at Manuka Oval in Canberra on 29 Dec 2020. Ben Dunk & Clinton Hinchliffe were the X-Factor subs for Melbourne Stars and Brendan Doggett & Alex Ross for Sydney Thunder. Melbourne’s captain Glen Maxwell won the toss and invited the opposition to bat first. Usman Khawaja & Alex Hales came to open for Thunder and Glen Maxwell got the new ball to attack.
Both the openers of Thunder played well in the first 4 overs of the powerplay and made 42 runs at no loss. Hales completed his fifty from just 21 balls but was dismissed by Maddinson in the 8th over. Hales played well and made 71 runs from 29 balls, then Callum Ferguson came to join Usman Khawaja. Ferguson showed his great form and also made 50 runs from 33 balls. Khawaja was dismissed by the Stanlake in the 13th over. Sydney Thunder finally made a score of 219 runs at the loss of 7 wickets in 20 overs. Ben Cutting showed his talent with the bat in the death overs and made 20 runs from 7 balls. Melbourne Stars needed 220 runs from 120 balls to win the match.
Andre Fletcher & Marcus Stoinis came on the crease to chase the target for Stars and Adam Milne got the new ball. Stars started well but lost his first at the score of 42 runs in the first powerplay. Stoinis was sent back by Chris Green and he made 27 runs. After the dismissal of Stoinis, Stars lost their important wicket of Fletcher in the 6th overs. Green and Tremain bowled really well and dismissed 6 players of stars. Stars could make only 144 runs in 19.5 overs and lost the match.
Thunder won the match by 75 runs. Chris Green took 4 wickets for his team and Tremain also took 2 important wickets. Alex Hales was the Player of the Match for his brilliant batting performance.
Stats - Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Stars Head to Head