Stars vs Thunder, 16th Match at Sydney, Jan 04 2017, Big Bash League

RESULT
16th Match (N), Sydney, January 04, 2017, Big Bash League
(20 ov, T:167) 168/4

Thunder won by 6 wickets (with 0 balls remaining)

Player Of The Match
71* (50)
eoin-morgan
Cricinfo's MVP
85.19 ptsImpact List
kevin-pietersen
Match centre 
Comms: Akshay Gopalakrishnan
Scorecard summary
Melbourne Stars 166/8(20 overs)
2/26 (4)
Sydney Thunder 168/4(20 overs)
71* (50)
Cricinfo’s Most Valuable Players of the Match
PLAYERTeam
TI
Runs
I. Runs
B. Impact
Bowl
I. Wkts
Bo. Impact
MS85.1960(37)73.1685.19--0
ST75.0171(50)72.7675.01--0
ST70.343(3)2.772.373/232.967.97
ST57.34--02/302.9357.34
MS52.70(1)- 1.4- 1.512/393.0754.22
end of over 2017 runs
ST: 168/4CRR: 8.40 
Eoin Morgan71 (50b 5x4 3x6)
Pat Cummins22 (20b 1x4 1x6)
Ben Hilfenhaus 4-0-39-2
Scott Boland 4-0-29-1

So an exhilarating night at the Showground Stadium ends with the home team and defending champions Sydney Thunder picking up their first win of the tournament. It took a long time coming, after four straight defeats. But what a moment it was when it did finally arrive. Thunder have tasted success at long last, but the celebrations would probably not last too long as they have a job ahead of themselves as Morgan wouldn't be with them for their next game. He takes the flight to India for England's limited-overs series. Thunder would probably be without Russell as well. But all the pondering and worrying will be for another day. Tonight will be a night to rejoice for Thunder. That's it from us for this game then. We hope you enjoyed our coverage. Do join us tomorrow for the Scorchers-Heat clash in Perth. Until then. Cheers!

Eoin Morgan is the Man of the Match.

Morgan - "It feels pretty awesome. It's a lot shorter, the straight boundary here. I think we've got a really strong group of players. Unfortunately, some of the results did not go our way. The guys have the belief, hopefully, this is the start of something. Absolutely, it's very entertaining and I will be watching it (the Big Bash League) very closely from India.

Pat Cummins - Anything can happen in the last over. Incredible, that last-ball six. It was actually pretty dry which meant the ball was going to hold up in the first innings. But the rain helped as the slower balls did not really grip.

rahul: "Congratulation to the ST but sadly their winner is going away putting them in more trouble along with Russsell I think.... "

19.6
6
Hilfenhaus to Morgan, SIX runs

goodness! What a finish! It's deafening at the Showground Stadium. It was a nothing ball. Full and on the pads and Morgan lofts it straight down the ground. It's huge, it's clean, goes way back into the crowd, around 25 rows back. And it's the first win for the defending champions

19.5
2
Hilfenhaus to Morgan, 2 runs

great running! Fuller ball, driven past the left of the bowler and there was no way a second run was on offer there. Credit to the batsmen as they take on the fielder at long-off and scamper back for the second. The throw is fired at the wicketkeeper's end but Morgan is so quick that he has completed the dive and is well inside the crease by the time the ball gets to the keeper

19.4
1
Hilfenhaus to Cummins, 1 run

yes, it is indeed a slower ball. On a length and Cummins tries to pull it away. Gets the timing horribly wrong and it skews off the outside part of the bat and lands just in front of the fielder at mid-off

Is a slower ball coming up?

19.3
6
Hilfenhaus to Cummins, SIX runs

what a shot from Cummins! He has made some vital runs in many matches for Thunder. Can he pull off a special one tonight? It's not a slower one this time. Full and on the toes and Cummin slogs it over deep midwicket. Eight off three needed now

19.2
1
Hilfenhaus to Morgan, 1 run

full toss from Hilfenhaus and Morgan misses out as he can only push it to cover

Morgan on strike now. Can he pull this off?

19.1
1lb
Hilfenhaus to Cummins, 1 leg bye

slower ball on the pads, Cummins slogs and does not make contact as the ball goes off the pad and they steal the leg bye. Appeal for lbw is turned down as that clearly pitched outside leg

Ben Hilfenhaus will bowl the final over. He has 15 to defend.

end of over 1910 runs
ST: 151/4CRR: 7.94 RRR: 16.00
Eoin Morgan62 (47b 5x4 2x6)
Pat Cummins15 (17b 1x4)
Scott Boland 4-0-29-1
Ben Hilfenhaus 3-0-23-2
18.6
6
Boland to Morgan, SIX runs

short ball, tries to pull and gets it off the top edge but the ball beats the fielder at long-on who jumps but the ball sails comfortably over him. It was slower so the timing was slightly off. But clean hit in the end

18.5
Boland to Morgan, no run

slower ball, swing and a miss from Morgan

18.4
2
Boland to Morgan, 2 runs

good change of pace

18.3
1b
Boland to Cummins, 1 bye

goes for a wild slog and does not make contact as the ball goes to the keeper. Good presence of mind from Morgan who scampers across for a single

18.2
Boland to Cummins, no run

full and wide, slower ball, nicely bowled in that channel. Uses the crease well and makes it hard for the batsman to reach for it and Cummins swings and can't get near it

18.1
1
Boland to Morgan, 1 run

shorter ball, fetches the pull from outside off and can only get it on the bounce to Maxwell who fields it at long-on

Robert Stow: "Unfair criticism of Morgan, with early wickets lost and Russell unable to bat, he had to make sure he stayed in and build a platform for Thunder to attack in the last few overs, which he's done perfectly. A 10 ball 15 or so and out would have done his team no good at all."

end of over 187 runs
ST: 141/4CRR: 7.83 RRR: 13.00
Pat Cummins15 (15b 1x4)
Eoin Morgan53 (43b 5x4 1x6)
Ben Hilfenhaus 3-0-23-2
Scott Boland 3-0-20-1
17.6
4
Hilfenhaus to Cummins, FOUR runs

Swings hard as he looks to slog this length ball over the leg side but gets a leading edge as the ball goes away to the third man fence

17.5
Hilfenhaus to Cummins, no run

slogs hard and the front hand comes off as he completes the swing of the bat. Slower ball so misses his timing

17.4
1
Hilfenhaus to Morgan, 1 run
17.3
1lb
Hilfenhaus to Cummins, 1 leg bye

looks for a big one over the leg side but that was a yorker and hits him on the toe before going into the leg side. Pitched outside leg

17.2
Hilfenhaus to Cummins, no run

fuller ball, slow in pace outside off, makes room but has to reach out for it and does not make contact

17.1
1
Hilfenhaus to Morgan, 1 run

shorter ball, swivels around and pulls behind square

end of over 1714 runs
ST: 134/4CRR: 7.88 RRR: 11.00
Eoin Morgan51 (41b 5x4 1x6)
Pat Cummins11 (11b)
Scott Boland 3-0-20-1
James Faulkner 3-0-25-0

Fourteen off that one. 33 off three needed now. One more 15-run over should take them close. Whatever happens, seems like this one's going right down to the wire.

16.6
1
Boland to Morgan, 1 run

slower ball, tries to pull but does not middle it and the ball goes to midwicket

16.5
4
Boland to Morgan, FOUR runs

fuller and outside off, Morgan lofts it over long-off and the ball goes on the bounce over the boundary and that is the fifty for Morgan. Good knock in a crunch situation but Thunder need him to stay on

Match details
Sydney Showground Stadium
TossSydney Thunder, elected to field first
Series
Season2016/17
Player Of The Match
Hours of play (local time)19.10 start, First Session 19.10-20.25, Interval 20.25-20.40, Second Session 20.40-21.55
Match days4 January 2017 - night (20-over match)
Umpires
TV Umpire
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
PointsSydney Thunder 2, Melbourne Stars 0
Win Probability
ST 100%
MSST
100%50%100%MS InningsST Innings

Over 20 • ST 168/4

Thunder won by 6 wickets (with 0 balls remaining)
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Big Bash League

TEAMMWLPTNRR
PS853100.618
BH853100.516
SS85310-0.848
MS84480.397
MR84480.042
AS83560.334
HH8356-0.530
ST8356-0.600