Stars smash a super victory
Melbourne Stars match winner James Faulkner says his super over strategy was simply to “go out there and hit” after he steered his side to a Big Bash League victory over the Sydney Sixers.
Two sixes off master bowler Brett Lee’s bowling in the one-over decider proved the difference, scoring 19 to the Sixers 2-9.
Both sides were tied on 150 after their regular innings, requiring Faulkner’s inspired slogging.
The 24-year-old Tasmanian took the plaudits but said finding a way to victory wasn’t rocket science.
“I’ve stuffed it up a hell of a lot of times and looked like a dill,” he said.
“You just try and breathe and feel as relaxed as you possibly can.
“It is a game, you try and enjoy it because it is a hell of a lot of fun playing out there.”
The dramatic finish poured life in the Stars’ BBL campaign, whereas 48 hours earlier they sat at 0-3 in the win-loss.
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Faulkner said now at 2-3, the Stars wanted to play on into finals and weren’t bothered if they had to travel.
“T20’s such a fast and fickle game there’s no real advantage (to playing at home),” he said.
“Whether (we finish) third or fourth, sneak in by one per cent, no one’s going to care.”
Faulkner was not the only one to make a difference at the death.
John Hastings’ line-and-length super over produced two wickets and kept the Sixers at arm’s length.
And wicketkeeper Tom Triffitt stunned veteran Brett Lee with 10 runs from the final three balls to force the decider.
Triffitt and Faulkner, who grew up together in northern Tasmania, partnered for 34 from the final three overs.
Faulkner said the 24-year-old, who was called up to the side when first-choice keeper Peter Nevill broke his finger, deserved his moment in the spotlight.
“I’ve played all my junior sport with him,” he said.
“Myself and (captain Cameron) Whitey really wanted him here… it was good to have one of my best mates playing with me and batting in the middle of the mighty MCG and doing well.”
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Stars batsman David Hussey will miss the rest of the season, with confirmation he had broken his hand in two places.
Hussey told Channel Ten he was facing a minimum four week lay-off.
Tonight, the table-leading Adelaide Strikers take on reigning champions the Perth Scorchers at Adelaide Oval.
FULL SCOREBOARD
Sydney Sixers Innings
N MADDINSON c & b Bird 5 (3)
M LUMB c White b Boland 80 (61)
R WESSELS c Maxwell b Hastings 6 (6)
M HENRIQUES c Triffitt b Boland 7 (4)
J SILK not out 37 (34)
R CARTERS b Faulkner 7 (8)
S ABBOTT c Maxwell b Hastings 3 (4)
S O’KEEFE not out 0 (0)
Sundries (3lb 2w) 5
Six wickets for 150
Fall: 5 (Maddinson), 37 (Wessels), 53 (Henriques), 122 (Lumb), 133 (Carters), 136 (Abbott).
Bowling: G Maxwell 3-0-24-0 (1w), J Bird 3-0-19-1, J Faulkner 2-0-24-1, J Hastings 4-0-37-2, S Boland 4-0-19-2, M Beer 4-0-24-0 (1w).
Batting time: 80 mins. Overs: 20.
Stars Innings
C WHITE b Dwarshuis 24 (31)
L WRIGHT b Lee 0 (1)
K PIETERSEN c Carters b Bollinger 54 (43)
G MAXWELL c Henriques b Dwarshuis 23 (15)
J FAULKNER not out 17 (16)
T TRIFFITT not out 25 (14)
Sundries (2lb 5w) 7
Four wickets for 150
Fall: 1 (Wright), 71 (White), 95 (Pietersen), 108 (Maxwell).
Bowling: B Lee 4-0-31-1 (2w), D Bollinger 4-0-32-1 (1w), S O’Keefe 4-0-24-0, S Abbott 3-0-24-0 (2w), B Dwarshuis 4-0-31-2, M Henriques 1-0-6-0.
Batting time: 87 mins. Overs: 20.
Umpires: Paul Wilson, S Nogajski.
Match Referee: David Talalla.
Third Umpire: Shawn Craig.
Result: Stars beat Sydney Sixers after super over.
Man of the Match: James Faulkner
Points: Stars 2.00 Sixers 0.00
