BBL Stars v Thunder, WBBL Stars v Renegades – Sixes, Super Overs and Shane Watson

The two hour drive to see a Twenty20 game is always a punt. There’s no guarantee of quality or a good contest in a 3 hour game. Having a curtain-raiser game beforehand makes the trip much more worthwhile. The curtain-raiser, a WBBL derby between the two Melbourne teams, the Stars and the Renegades, turned out to be by far the highlight of the on field action.

 

A bright finish to the innings from Anna Lanning (a run a ball 21) and Alana King (22 off 17) saw the Stars post 6/118. Mortlake CC product Georgia Wareham bowled 1 over of leg-spin for 6 runs for the Renegades. In reply the Melbourne Renegades always seemed a bit behind. 16 year old Annabel Sutherland, daughter of Cricket Australia CEO James, bowled exceptionally well and looks to have a huge future. With six required off the final ball to tie the game and force a super over, New Zealand star and Renegades captain Amy Satterthwaite powerfully plonked the ball over the mid-wicket boundary for a thrilling finish.

 

The super overs were two thrilling overs of cricket. The Renegades lost 4 wickets on the way to making 10. The Stars managed to match the 10 off their 6 balls, and win the game due to hitting more boundaries over the whole game. Great theatre. The Women’s game gets better every year, the quality of the fielding especially a real highlight.

 

We’re close to the boundary in the Olympic Stand. Four year old Emily is beside herself, waiting for the mascots to visit our part of the ground. When Star Man & Star Woman arrive all three children pose for the photo opportunity with the mute mascots.

 

Hanging with the mascots

 

Blind cricket is played on the ground during this time as well. Great for the kids to see and very inspiring to watch. The great game really is for everyone, formats for all abilities.

 

The Stars are batting first in the main game. Peter Handscomb is opening. Very happy to see that. Just near us a Sri Lankan band (guys in Sri Lankan ODI shirts at least) play energetic, fun music. Trumpet, drums, trombone, cymbals. It’s loud. It fits the T20 format. I imagine briefly that I’m watching a big game in Colombo. #bucketlist

 

The Sri Lankan beat

 

Handscomb, devoid of opportunity since his unlucky omission after the 2nd Ashes Test, sweeps and strokes his way to 57 off 44. Kevin Pieterson receives the biggest applause of the night when he walks out to bat. The 2005 Ashes are a long time ago. Only 12 runs for one of the genuine stars of the game very much in his twilight. Seb Gotch plays his best knock for the Stars, 31 off 25 balls, including a massive six straight into Bay 13. 6/147. Competitive.

 

If you wonder why Usman Khawaja can’t get a game in Australia’s short form teams, his woeful fielding, barring a nice catch during the Stars innings among several errors, might be a big clue. Yet the first ball of the Renegades innings, an immaculate Khawaja cover drive for four is cricket watching perfection. Would kill to play that kind of shot from ball one.

Dan Worrall is punished from ball one by Khawaja and Vince. Vince makes a nice 40, as he showed for England during the Test series, nice 30’s and 40’s are his go. Bespectacled Chinaman bowler Liam Bowe dismisses both openers. The 20 year old is a fantastic future prospect.

 

Seb Gotch is a very good outfielder for a wicketkeeper

 

Thunder captain Shane Watson leads the visitors to victory. Very lucky to survive a Jackson Coleman catch (thought Coleman controlled it for long enough but the 3rd umpire thought otherwise) and another, easier Coleman dropped catch. Then hitting Coleman for a massive six over mid-wicket. Watto still very much showing his worth in this format.

 

Watto faces up

 

Despite the loss, the Stars players stayed out and signed autographs for quite some time. My boys managed to get the signatures of Peter Handscomb and Ben Hilfenhaus, which absolutely made their night. Well done to the players for doing this. Mrs R was also quite thrilled to say g’day to her long time pin-up boy BW Hilfenhaus.

 

Chatting with B. Hilfenhaus about our combined tally of 99 Test wickets

 

Peter Handscomb with a couple of his biggest fans

 

While I still prefer attending Test cricket, the Big Bash is a fun night out and doing a great job bringing families to cricket.

 


Melbourne Stars Women 6/118 (L.Lee 31, A.King 22, A.Lanning 21*) tied with
Melbourne Renegades Women 6/118 (AE Satterhwaite 31*, S.Molineux 25, A. Sutherland 2/11, GA Elwiss 2/34)

Melbourne Stars Women won after one-over eliminator

 

Melbourne Stars Men 6/147 (PSP Handscomb 57, SE Gotch 25, CJ Green 2/27) lost to
Sydney Thunder Men 3/149 (SR Watson 49, UT Khawaja 44, L Bowe 2/30)

 

About Luke Reynolds

Cricket and Collingwood tragic. Twitter: @crackers134

Comments

  1. My #bucketlist of talking & getting Ben Hilfenhaus signature done! Yours travelling to Sri Lanka to watch the cricket may be a little while off yet Luke!!!!! T20 format a winner,so much to keep the kids & families entertained.

  2. Colin Ritchie says

    Went with my son and grandson to a BBL game last season. Though I was not a fan of this format, I’m a traditionalist when it comes to cricket, I was pleasantly surprised and won over by the match we saw. It certainly is an excellent format for family entertainment. Great report Luke!

  3. Luke- for reasons I can’t really explain Hillfy remains one of my favourite bowlers. I always enjoyed watching him bowl. Maybe he was reminiscent of Terence Michael Alderman.

    As expressed on this very website early in the month we’ve woken up to the MLB concept of nightly games, from 7-10, and it presents a wonderful summertime routine. I’m a long-form fan, but there’s much to be said for the BBL.

    Thanks Luke.

  4. The saving grace making the effort to go to this game myself with the family was Khawaja.

    He reminded me of Neo when he decided the Matrix, such was the utter command and contempt he held the mere mortal bowlers in. He only got out because he got bored with how easy he found it. Watching the way Smith and Marsh batted Australia out of the ODI emphasises your point Crackers.

  5. Great work, Luke. And I’m disappointed that I could not get there to catch up with you, mate. The early 6-10 start-time did me no favours (but was probably excellent for your good self). I understand that the early start was to cater for the Perth game, but it immediately precludes all Saturday afternoon cricketers in Melbourne.

    Usman has been a class above the rest from the moment he came back from the Test matches.

  6. Good stuff,Luke and no need for blood tests re the kids I reckon you can claim them
    ( spot on re Usman his fielding is putrid )

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