Big Bash : Stars demolish Strikers

Sliding Doors – Emphatic Victory or Demoralising Loss?

By Peter Argent

Melbourne Stars - scorching hot

Generation three of our game has delivered plenty of tough cricket in Big Bash League 3, but the Stars vs. Strikers game was that lop-sided even the most parochial of Melbourne fans would have been frustrated with the lack of competitiveness by the visitors.

It was a nightmare for the South Australia’s from the time they left Callum Ferguson out of the batting line up and failed to again select 20-year-old young gun Travis Head.

Prime recruit Alex Hales failed – again, Phil Hughes (who has technical issues) got a first baller, former Victorian Tim Ludeman’s elevation to number three didn’t work.

The list of calamities continued – Kane Richardson – who showed a little ticker making 21, head butted a bouncer in the best “Geordie’ tradition.

Even the top scorer, another Mexican from east Michael Klinger was becalmed in his 30’s. The bowling figures of the Stars were akin to at under 12s match.  Man of the match James Faulkner took 3/7 from his allotment, Luke Wright 1/11, leg spinner James Murihead 1/11 from two overs.

Lasif Malinga made the Strikers middle order look mediocre, with his Yorker.  Four overs, two wickets for eight runs.

Lasif Malinga - Volleyball A

Let’s face it – on that performance Malinga could have bowled down a volleyball and the Strikers would have failed to put leather on willow.

Then just to put an exclamation mark (not point and the American do), the Stars got the modest total of 91 required in just 7.3 overs.

Wright rode his luck and smashed 49 off just 20 balls, then Glenn Maxwell showed contempt for the attack, backing away and smashing the ball to all parts in a great cameo of 25 not (10 deliveries), including four boundaries and a top edge over the keeper for six to finish the match off.

Any sporting event is about a contest – there wasn’t one at the ‘G’ last night.

 

Comments

  1. Skip of Skipton says

    Glen Maxwell’s innings against the Renegades was insane. If Bailey is no.6 in the Test team, then this bloke has to be the next in line.

  2. Malcolm Ashwood says

    Have no prob with Ferg not getting a 20 20 game and if he does play must bat in the first 3 for 20 20 games I would play Travis Head have well and truly made my thoughts known , Furg to bat 6 in real cricket for , Aust

  3. Malcolm Ashwood says

    Sorry Peter thanks for the photos and report which as you correctly remark was a no contest

Leave a Comment

*