The Melbourne Stars have missed the Big Bash League finals for just the second time in their 10-year history after being unable to claim a bonus point against the Sydney Sixers.
The Melbourne Renegades’ win over the Hobart Hurricanes earlier on Tuesday had kept the Stars’ chances of making the finals alive, but to do so they would need to claim all four available points against the Sixers at the MCG on Tuesday night in what was the last regular season match of the season.
Glenn Maxwell scored an impressive 66 but his Melbourne Stars have missed the Big Bash finals.Credit:Getty Images
Sent in by the Sixers, the Stars were 3-72 after 10 overs of their innings before accelerating to 6-177 from their 20 overs. But the Sixers only needed one point from the match to secure top spot on the ladder and avoid a first-up finals trip to Perth to face the Scorchers.
Having fallen to 2-10 in the second over, the Sixers steadied via their third wicket pairing of James Vince and Moises Henriques.
The Sixers reached the “Bash Boost” target of 73 in eight overs and with eight wickets in hand, eliminating the Stars from the tournament and ensuring the Adelaide Strikers lived to fight another day.
The Strikers are headed for an elimination final date with the Brisbane Heat, while the Sixers will face the Scorchers in a qualifying final. Both sides have a double chance. Sydney Thunder, who ended the regular season in third, await the winners of the Heat-Strikers match.
The Stars – runners-up in both of the last two seasons – had only previously missed the finals three years ago, a season in which they finished last on the ladder. This is the first time both Victorian clubs have missed the finals.
