Stoinis storm powers Melbourne Stars to a narrow win over Adelaide Strikers
Luke Wood celebrating a dismissal [Source: Twitter]
Melbourne Stars secured a rare win, only their second of the ongoing BBL 2022-23 season, to upstage the Adelaide Strikers in their home base.
Stars’ senior all-rounder Marcus Stoinis blasted 74 off just 35 deliveries in the match, before the bowlers managed to hold down Rashid Khan and Adam Hose in the death overs.
Stoinis' blitz powers Stars to a huge total
After opting to bat first, Stars’ openers Joe Clarke and Thomas Rogers put up a 63-run stand. Marcus Stoinis arrived to the crease a while later after the opening wicket and struck an empowering 74 off just 35 deliveries. He dispatched six sixes in his innings that also featured five boundaries.
Stoinis’ knock propelled his side to 186 in their 20 overs, with Clarke’s 32-ball 42 being the next best score of the innings.
Strikers fall short as Stars have the last laugh
Despite losing opener Matthew Short within the first over of the run-chase, the Adelaide Strikers did not lose intent and kept afloat with the required rate throughout the powerplay.
Henry Hunt scored a brisk 49 and formed a 74-run stand Adam Hose, who himself scored an unbeaten 56.
Rashid Khan clobbered a 14-ball 24* at the death but his efforts were not enough for his side to cross their 187-run task.
The Strikers eventually fell eight runs short of their target, with Stars pacer Liam Hatcher claiming two wickets in his four overs.
Brief scores
Melbourne Stars: 186-7 (20)
Marcus Stoinis 74 (35), Joe Clarke 42 (32);
Wes Agar 3-27, Henry Thornton 2-46
Adelaide Strikers: 178-5 (20)
Adam Hose 56* (41), Henry Hunt 49 (40);
Liam Hatcher 2-29, Beau Webster 1-21
Melbourne Stars won by eight runs.
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