BBL 2021: Joe Clarke's responsible knock gives Melbourne Stars 5-wicket win vs Adelaide Strikers

There was a fair bit of excitement in the final moments of the Big Bash League clash between Melbourne Stars and Adelaide Strikers when the Stars needed 7 off the final over and Qais Ahmed was on strike and Matthew Short had the ball in his hands. 

But Ahmed took just one delivery to bring the equation down to 1 required off 1 after he smashed a maximum on the very first ball of the final over and Short then bowled a wide delivery down the leg as the game finished in Melbourne Stars favour. They won by 5 wickets and with five balls to spare. 

Chasing 140 in 20 overs, the Stars lost wickets at regular intervals and were reduced to 83/4 in 12 overs. But Joe Clarke held the fort from one end and notched up a 58-ball 83 during the course which included four maximums and three fours. He also stitched a stand of 50 runs with Beau Webster who returned unbeaten at 14 off 20. 

Rashid Khan was the pick of the bowlers for Adelaide Strikers after he returned with figures of 1/16 in 4 overs while Peter Siddle scalped a couple for 26 runs in his 4 overs. 

Earlier, the Strikers never really got into the groove barring Wells who scored 68 in 58 deliveries and were restricted to 139/9 in 20 overs. Haris Rauf, Qais and Adam Zampa picked up two wickets each for the side. 

Clarke, who was adjudged man of the match, acknowledged that it was nice to get a win at this moment. 

“It's nice to get a win after what we've been through in the last week or so having players missing out to COVID. It's nice to collect all four points tonight. I got out yesterday morning, had like ten minutes in the nets and the weather was good. It's not ideal, we've got a game tomorrow as well, so I'll have to make sure I am early to bed tonight. I spoke to our psychologist and said that I'll maybe lose a bit of rhythm staying in my hotel room for seven days,” he said after the match.