Adelaide Strikers v Melbourne Stars – Big Bash League, 2012/13 – Live Cricket Score and Match Update – Stars claim 8-run win
Despite a valiant effort from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KA-Pollard-c1754, the 176-run target proved too tall an order for the Adelaide Strikers, as the Melbourne Stars went on to claim an 8-run victory in their Big Bash League match, played today on December 27, at the Adelaide Oval.
Prior to the match, the Strikers had been placed at number two on the tournament points table, while the Stars were at number 3. However, following the conclusion of today’s game, the positions were reversed.
Faced with a daunting target to chase, the Adelaide Strikers appeared to have an upper-hand at first, as the Stars had come into the match sans their skipper and frontline spinner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shane-Keith-Warne-c89672, who took time off to spend his Christmas holidays in the UK.
He was replaced in the bowling attack by debutant Clive Rose, while Cameron White took the reins as skipper in Warne’s absence.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SL-Malinga-c2540 (4-0-29-1) teamed up to put the Strikers on the back-foot, and their demolition of the top order managed to do the trick.
Opening batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Nathan-Reardon-c2071
(7) – the former sent packing by Faulkner, and the latter snapped up by Hastings, leaving the team at 70 for 3.
A 40-run 4th wicket partnership between http://www.senore.com/Cricket/CJ-Ferguson-c1264 (35) and Kieron Pollard revived the team’s innings somewhat, but came to an abrupt end when Faulkner picked up Ferguson as his second wicket of the day.
Pollard proved to be just the hard-hitter the Strikers needed, but he came in too late. His unbeaten 65 off 43 provided the team a late burst, and drove the innings forward, while his partner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Matt-Johnston-c1920 (8*) remained mediocre, serving mainly as a foil
to Pollard. The final over saw the Strikers needing 27 runs off 6 balls, and while Pollard made desperate attempts, striking a four and two sixes, the team eventually fell short, and finished at 167 for 4 by the end of 20 overs.
Earlier, the base for the Stars’ win had been set by Player of the Match http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rob-Quiney-c2340 (22) was the only other player who managed to pass the
20-run mark, while the rest remained lacklustre.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/J-Botha-c1610, Matt Johnston, Brad Young, and Pollard (all of whom claimed one scalp each) attempted to curb the visiting batsmen, but the Stars managed to work their way up to 175 by the end of 20 overs
– a score which they later managed to successfully defend, clinching an 8-run win.
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