Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Glenn Maxwell’s sublime batting form has catapulted the Melbourne Stars into the finals of cricket’s Big Bash League.
Maxwell struck a brutal 76 off 32 balls at the MCG on Sunday night as the Stars monstered 5-219 before bowling the top-of-the-table Hobart Hurricanes out for 179.
Glenn Maxwell tears into the Hobart Hurricanes attack at the MCG.Credit: Getty Images
Maxwell whacked six sixes and five fours in his dig in the final home-and-away match of the season, which the Stars had to win to sneak into the finals.
The win, was the Stars’ fifth on the trot after starting the season with five consecutive losses, their fortunes changing dramatically when they got their first win against the Brisbane Heat on New Year’s Day.
The win also book them a place in a cut-throat BBL semi-final against the Sydney Thunder at ENGIE Stadium in Sydney on Wednesday, the night after the Hurricanes host the Sydney Sixers at Bellerive Oval.
The Stars resurgence has been led by former skipper Maxwell, 36, who has been player of the match in their past three matches.
A week ago, he hit a stunning 90 off 52 balls to revive their innings against the Melbourne Renegades. The game before that he contributed 58 from 32 balls against the Sydney Sixers.
In total, he has 244 runs and has been dismissed just once since falling for a golden duck on New Year’s Day against the Brisbane Heat.
Those runs have come from just 126 balls (run rate of 194), 21 of which have been hit for six, meaning almost 52 per cent of his runs have come from shots that cleared the boundary and almost three quarters of his runs have come from either fours or sixes.
He told Channel Seven that new skipper Marcus Stoinis deserved credit for the team’s revival, and that, with all facets of their game in order, the Stars were confident going into the finals.
“It’s been exciting to be a part of,” Maxwell said.
Three of Maxwell’s sixes came in successive balls in the penultimate over of the innings off the bowling of Cameron Gannon.
Australian Test all-rounder Beau Webster was also influential for the Stars, bashing 51 off 31 balls, while skipper Marcus Stoinis contributed 32 off 19 balls.
The Hurricanes, who had already qualified to host a final, used seven bowlers, with key man Nathan Ellis taking 1-3 but bowling only one over, leaving Channel Seven commentator Ricky Ponting questioning their tactics and pondering whether the medium-pacer might be carrying an injury.
The Seven team asked Maxwell if he’d ever hit the ball better in his career.
“Probably not, ” he replied.
“I just feel really clear at the crease, I’ve got a really good idea about what I want to do.
“I’m just looking at the bowler and seeing where I can score runs … I’m just looking at the positive option all the time.”
Despite some powerful hitting early from Mitchell Owen (38 off 17), the Hurricanes never threatened to chase down Melbourne’s imposing total, particularly after a stunning diving catch from Stoinis to dismiss opener Caleb Jewell.
Mark Steketee, 4-24 off 3.3 overs, took the spoils with the ball, and Maxwell capped his game with three outfield catches (two while conversing with the TV commentators).
