BBL 2021: Adam Zampa anchors Melbourne Stars to thrilling win against Sydney Thunder

Melbourne Stars stole away a win in a nail-biter against Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League clash in Melbourne, courtesy some brilliant bowling from Adam Zampa in the final over. Needing 11 in the last over of the innings, while chasing 166, the Thunder side could only manage to get six runs. 

The equation was down to 5 needed off the last ball with Cutting on strike. Zampa bowled a flat leg break and Cutting didn’t connect the square cut as the Stars took away the win. 

Earlier, the Thunder side had lost a couple of early wickets during the chase but an 89-run stand for the third wicket between Matthew Gikes and Sam Billings brought them back in the hunt. 

But Billings eventually departed for 43 off 31 and his dismissal certainly broke the shackles as Sydney lost a couple of more wickets in a quick succession reducing them to 135/5 in the 18th over. 

Later, Ross and Cutting made sure that there weren’t any further fall of wickets but couldn’t manage to take the team over the line. 

Melbourne Stars on the other side, rode on some good batting from Nick Larkin, Cartwright and Andre Russell to put 165/4 in 20 overs. While Larkin struck an unbeaten fifty, Cartwright scored 42, Russell chipped in with a 9-ball 17* during the course. 

Larkin lavished praise on Adam Zampa to win the match for the side in the end. 

“Wrecked. It was probably their game for most of the chase but our bowlers held their nerve. He (Zampa) wanted the ball and took it out of Maxi's hands. I struggled for the first 20-odd balls and then the Power Surge helped,” he said after the match. 

The two teams will now face each other in Sydney on Sunday.