Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades, 16th Match, January 1, 2019 - Full Commentary

Melbourne Stars jump to third spot on the points table - thanks to a better net run rate. Four teams are tied with four points in the mid-table following Hobart Hurricanes (8) and Sydney Sixers (6). Well, it's time to bring down the curtains. It was fun covering the New Year double-header. We'll be back tomorrow for Sydney Thunder vs Perth Scorchers. See you there. Until then, it's goodbye.

22:25 Local Time, 11:25 GMT, 16:55 IST: A stroll in the park for Melbourne Stars. Chasing a below par score, their openers got them off to a brisk start scoring 50 runs in the powerplay. The move to promote Stoinis up the order proved to be a masterstroke. He was the aggressor from the word go scoring 10 runs off the very first over against Nabi and that set the tone for the chase. Boyce was introduced late into the attack and he got the breakthrough in the eighth over by dismissing Ben Dunk. Nabi's direct hit found Larkin short of his crease and that's when Maxwell joined hands with Stoinis. The duo of all-rounders went after the Renegades bowlers by stitching a 65-run stand off just 40 deliveries. Boyce bamboozled Maxi to have him stumped, but the damage had already been done. Stoinis remained unbeaten till the end and hit the winning runs. Earlier in the evening, the Renegades failed to capitalize on the start provided by their openers.

17.5 K Richardson to Stoinis, SIX, Stoinis finishes it off in style! It was a back of a length delivery on middle and leg, Stoinis got inside the line and swivel-hooked it over deep backward square leg for half a dozen. Melbourne Stars win by 7 wickets

17.4K Richardson to Stoinis, no run, pulls this short ball straight to mid-wicket

17.3 K Richardson to Stoinis, 2 runs, pulled away to deep mid-wicket

17.2 K Richardson to Seb Gotch, 1 run, poked to backward point and there was a mix-up as Gotch was ball-watching while his partner was halfway down. Eventually, Gotch decides to go for the single. However, Dan Christian at backward point fumbled and that helped the batters' cause

17.1 K Richardson to Stoinis, 1 run, pitched up ball, driven to long-on

16.6 Boyce to Seb Gotch, no run, tossed up ball on the stumps, blocked into the off-side

16.5Boyce to Maxwell, out Stumped!! Beautiful delivery! A classical leg-spinner's dismissal. Gave it a flight and drew the right-hander forward. Maxwell was looking to work it through the leg-side after coming forward and got beaten on the outside edge - thanks to the away-turn. He was way out of his crease and the keeper doesn't err. Maxwell st Sam Harper b Boyce 33(22) [4s-1 6s-1]

Boyce to Maxwell, THATS OUT!! Stumped!!

16.4 Boyce to Stoinis, 1 run, chipped to the right of extra cover

16.3 Boyce to Maxwell, 1 run, flat in trajectory, Maxwell hurriedly pulls it to mid-wicket for a single

16.2 Boyce to Stoinis, 1 run, goes on the back foot to cut this slow leg-break to deep cover

16.1 Boyce to Maxwell, 1 run, flat on leg, nurdled backward of square leg

15.6 Usman Khan to Maxwell, 1 run, punched towards mid-off for a single

15.5 Usman Khan to Maxwell, 2 runs, closes the bat-face and tucks this short of length delivery behind square leg for a brace