MOE, Australia, CMC – Former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo produced an incisive spell to help fire Melbourne Stars to an emphatic 44-run victory over Adelaide Strikers in the Australian Big Bash here yesterday.
With Strikers chasing 168 at the Ted Summerton Reserve, Bravo snatched three for 22 to help bury the visitors for 123 all out, with two balls remaining.
Jake Lehmann top-scored with 40 from 32 balls while opener Alex Carey got 30 from 23 deliveries but the remainder of the batting failed to shine.
With Lehmann at the crease, Strikers remained in contention but Bravo made the key strike when he deceived the left-hander with a slower ball and had him holing out to mid off in the 14th over.
Bravo returned to close out the Strikers innings, removing Liam O’Connor (2) and Ben Laughlin (14) in successive overs.
Seamers Marcus Stoinis (3-20) and Liam Plunkett (3-21) hurt the top of the innings with three wickets apiece.
Earlier, openers Ben Dunk (72 not out) and Stoinis (53) smashed half-centuries in a stand of 113 as Stars raised 167 for two off their 20 overs.
Dunk, who lashed four fours and three sixes off 53 deliveries, put on 54 for the second wicket with Peter Handscomb who was run off the last ball of the innings for 36.
