MELBOURNE: In the 44th match of the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL), Melbourne Stars’ batter – Joe Clarke’s astonishing 83 enabled Melbourne Stars to defeat Adelaide Strikers by five wickets, here on Monday.

Turner’s mastery assisted the Stars to chase down 140 for the loss of five wickets, with four balls to spare.

Batting first, the Strikers had a poor start to their innings; losing three wickets for just 34 runs. Jonathan Wells and Thomas Kelly, however, anchored the innings with a valuable 48-runs partnership before Kelly walked back to the pavilion after scoring 13; resulting in Strikers, slipped to 81/4 in the 13th over.

The side then again ran into a collapse and the top-scorer Wells also departed after scoring a valiant 68 off 56 balls, including five boundaries and a six. The Strikers, in the end, restricted to 139/9 in the allotted 20 overs.

For the Stars, Pakistan’s pacer – Haris Rauf, Qais Ahmed, and Adam Zampa claimed two wickets each, while Brody Couch and Clinch Hinchliffe made one scalp each.

Set to chase 140, the Stars had a similar start to their innings; losing three wickets for a mere 43. The home side kept losing wickets at a consistent rate, but, Clarke stood firm at the other end and kept the scoreboard ticking single-handedly.

Clarke scored a brisk 83 off 58 balls, laced with three boundaries and four sixes. He was dismissed by the Strikers’ captain in the 19th over when the Stars only needed seven runs to pull off the victory.

Ahmed and Beaue Webster ensured the side getting over the line. Webster scored 14 off 20, while Ahmed hit a maximum; facing only one delivery.

For the Strikers, Siddle bagged two wickets, while Rashid Khan, Fawad Ahmed, and Harry Conway shared one wicket apiece.

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