Melbourne Stars 219 for 5 (Maxwell 76*, Webster 51, Stoinis 32, Chaudhary 1-37) won Hobart Hurricanes 179 (Ellis 40, Owen 38, Steketee 4-24, Usama 2-31) by 40 runs
The Stars needed a win to overtake Perth Scorchers into fourth place and qualify for the final. They took care of business against a Hurricanes team with little to play for.
After a woeful start to the season with five straight losses, the Stars have gained significant momentum with five straight wins to book an elimination final against Sydney Thunder at the Showgrounds.
The match was essentially a tune-up for the Hurricanes, who had already secured first place and a home final in the Qualifier against the Sydney Sixers.
Maxwell lights up again after Webster’s half-century
All eyes were on Maxwell. But the huge crowd at the MCG had to wait for their hero as openers Sam Harper and Thomas Rogers laid a solid platform.
The Stars have had plenty of problems at the top of the order with Harper particularly out of form. But they managed 19 runs in the first two overs in the best opening position of the season for the Stars.
Having ended a streak of five consecutive single-digit scores, Harper was unable to continue after being trapped by Nikhil Chaudhary’s spin.
Maxwell, fresh off his extraordinary 90 against Renegades, started fast and bowled Chaudhary for six off his fourth delivery. Their presence had a profound effect on Webster, who shook himself from his slumber to step onto the ground.
Webster hogged the strike but could not endure the wrath of Maxwell’s legion of fans as he marched towards his half-century with a six in the ground.
Maxwell took control after Webster’s dismissal and had the crowd in the palm of his hands when he faced a short, slower delivery from left-arm quick Marcus Bean and with a flick of his wrist hit it over fine leg. .
He was unstoppable at the death, hitting a six off the quick Cameron Gannon to reach his half-century and then smashing two more into the crowd as Stars surpassed 200.
Hurricanes experiment with their attack
With little reason at stake, the Hurricanes decided to play it safe. Spearhead Riley Meredith did not play while Nathan Ellis only pitched one with Ben McDermott in the fox sports transmission saying he was treating a pain in his groin.
Ellis used the match to experiment and seven bowlers were used. Tim David’s handy spin opened the bowling, while Chris Jordan bowled at the back on his return from a back injury but struggled amid Maxwell’s attack.
With Billy Stanlake injured and quickly missing the final, his position is up for grabs and it is seemingly a race between Bean and Gannon, newly signed as Stanlake’s replacement.
Bean, from the Tasmanian cricket Club, impressed on his professional debut against the Brisbane Heat at the Gabba. With a hair color change from gold to silver, Bean enjoyed Stoinis’s wicket with an awkward delivery that rose and rushed the batsman.
But he suffered at the back and so did Gannon, who was playing in the BBL for the first time in three years. He has been in excellent form in the Sheffield Shield, but Gannon struggled with his length to finish with 0 for 48 in 4 overs. Bean took 1 of 45 from his 4.
The Hurricanes were also extremely sloppy on the field to cap a forgettable performance.
Steketee continues in good form
Steketee struck again two balls later when Charlie Wakim drove straight back. He caught McDermott lbw in his next over before claiming Ellis at the end to finish with 4 for 24 in 3.3 overs.
Owen is soon untied but in vain
He also liked veteran quick Peter Siddle with several powerful strokes, unleashing his considerable power, to reach 34 off 10 balls. But he slowed down a bit before holing out at 38 as the Hurricanes’ slim chances effectively ended.
Ellis top-scored with a quick 40 at the end until he holed out, fittingly, to Maxwell, who raised his fist to the jubilant fans knowing that the Stars season will continue.
Tristan Lavalette is a journalist based in Perth.