In the 16th match of Big Bash League 2019-20, Hobart Hurricanes locked horns with Melbourne Stars. The match did not continue due to interruption as the rain played spoilsport multiple times during the game.
Also, the showers shortened the match length from 20 to 11 overs per team. However, in the end, the winner of the game was decided using the DLS method.
Stars won the toss earlier and elected to field on a bowling-friendly track and got off to a great start. On the third delivery of the innings, their fast bowler Daniel Worrall dismissed the in-form opener D’arcy Short from Hurricanes.
The left-handed batsman was unable to predict the ball’s late swing that took the bat’s inside edge and went into the gloves of the wicketkeeper Peter Handscomb.
Marcus Stoinis and Nick Larkin’s helpful score makes Stars win the BBL game
Simon Milenko was on 12 runs off 9 balls and Caleb Jewell was on 26 runs off 28 balls subsequently. The fast bowling unit of Stars also made life difficult for the batsmen of the Hurricanes.
It looked like the match might be abandoned due to rain. That was not the case, however, as the match was reduced to 11 overs and the batting side could only post a minimum score of 69 runs at a loss of 5 wickets.
Nathan Coulter-Nile, who recorded good bowling figures of 2/12, turned out to be the best bowler for Stars. From the other end, he got brilliant support from Dale Steyn.
In the chase courtesy of the DLS method, which was by no means steep, the Stars set the target of 80 runs in 11 overs.
Nonetheless, in the very first over of the innings, James Faulkner, the seaming all-rounder, scalped two big wickets of Nic Maddinson and Nick Larkin.
The on-field batters Marcus Stoinis and Peter Handscomb slowly began building a partnership to help their side overcome the early losses in the bowling-friendly conditions.
For the Stars, it wasn’t a cakewalk, as they had to hustle for each run. Marcus Stoinis was the last man to be dismissed because of rain for the final time before the match was called off.
The right-hand batsman smashed 25 with three boundaries flying off 19 balls. The Men in Green were ahead with four runs and won the game according to the DLS method. For his excellent bowling, Nathan Coulter Nile was named Man of the Match.
It also helped Glenn Maxwell and Co. grab two important points and in the second position they went up to the table.
