MELBOURNE, Australia, CMC – Andre Fletcher ended a nightmare run of form with a spectacular unbeaten half-century as Melbourne Stars ended their losing streak with a crushing 111-run victory over Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash here yesterday.
With a paltry 99 runs from his previous nine innings, the West Indies right-hander finally found his touch to stroke 89 not out off 49 deliveries, propelling Stars to 179 for two off 20 overs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Leg-spinner Adam Zampa then snatched five for 17 to bundle Strikers out for just 68 off 14.2 overs, their lowest total in BBL history and the fourth-largest defeat by any team.
Matt Renshaw top-scored with 20 but was one of only three players in double figures as Stars lost their last seven wickets for 24 runs in the space of 29 deliveries. Needing a score to justify Stars’ faith in him, Fletcher bounced back in style, striking eight fours and four sixes in an innings which got his side off to a rollicking start after being sent in.
He put on 41 for the first wicket with Marcus Stoinis (13), 61 for the second wicket with captain Glenn Maxwell (37) before adding a further 77 off 35 balls in a pulsating, unbroken third wicket partnership with Hilton Cartwright who struck 30 from 17 balls with a pair of fours and sixes.
Fletcher reached his half-century – the 26th of his career – off 36 balls at the end of the 16th over before exploding to add 39 from the last 13 balls of his innings.
He ended the innings in grand style, smashing a low full toss from left-arm spinner Danny Briggs over long on for six.
In reply, Strikers lost both openers Alex Carey (1) and Phil Salt (5) cheaply as off-spinner Maxwell (2-12) and leg-spinner Zahir Khan (2-19) struck early blows.
Renshaw attempted a recovery effort by adding 36 for the third wicket with Jonathan Wells (18) but once Zampa broke the stand by having Renshaw holing out to long on, the innings imploded.
The victory lifted Stars back into playoff contention, now fourth on 20 points while Strikers are also on 20 points but lie sixth owing to inferior net run rate.
