Marcus Stoinis emerges from slump with crucial knock as Melbourne Stars beat Adelaide Strikers

Stoinis smashed 74 from 35 balls to emerge from his rut of form with the bat, while Adam Zampa, Liam Hatcher and Trent Boult bowled with discipline to ensure the Strikers slipped to a third straight defeat

Sam Morshead | 31/12/2022 at 11:40

Adelaide: Melbourne Stars 186-7, Adelaide Strikers 178-5 - Melboune Stars won by eight runs

Scorecard

Melbourne Stars sprung a surprise by beating Adelaide Strikers on their own turf.

The Stars went into this fixture at the Adelaide Oval having won just once in five Big Bash outings in 2022/23, but a bombastic innings from Marcus Stoinis and intelligent bowling ensured it would be a very happy new year for the men in green.

Batting first after winning the toss, the Stars enjoyed a quick start, as Tom Rogers (30) and Joe Clarke (42) put on 63 for the first wicket in 7.2 overs.

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^{Melbourne Stars beat Adelaide Strikers on New Year's Eve [Getty Images]}

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^{Marcus Stoinis hit 74 for the Stars [Getty Images]}

But their cause received a substantial boost when Stoinis arrived at the wicket.

The Australia international allrounder has not had the best of times during this BBL campaign - he had managed just 14 runs from four innings prior to the visit to Adelaide - but here he produced early New Year's Eve fireworks to propel his team into the ascendancy.

Nearly one in three of the deliveries he faced went to the boundary - five fours and six sixes - as the Stars added 107 runs to their score in the 9.5 overs he was at the crease.

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^{Adelaide Strikers could not chase down 187 [Getty Images]}

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^{Adam Zampa bowled with discipline [Getty Images]}

A target of 187 was no insurmountable for the Strikers, and at 123 for 2 with nearly six overs remaining, they looked in control.

When Henry Hunt was dismissed for 49, however, the Stars found a way to contain their opponents. Zampa's four overs went for just 25, while Hatcher returned figures of 2 for 25 from his allocation, with his wickets coming in successive balls as the Strikers chased the game.

Rashid Khan produced some characteristic big-hitting to bring Adelaide within touching distance of victory, but ultimately needing 17 off the final over was a leap too far.

Adam Hose made an unbeaten 56 in a losing cause for the Strikers.