Stars make it unlucky 13 for Thunder

By Andrew McGarry

Updated January 09, 2013 10:44:04

Sydney Thunder's season of futility has been completed after the bottom-of-the-ladder side lost its 13th straight match by 13 runs against the Melbourne Stars at the MCG on Tuesday night.

The Stars, missing two big names in Shane Warne and Lasith Malinga, struggled to set a total before finishing on 8 for 145 off the full 20 overs.

But after star import Chris Gayle put his team in a brilliant position, the Thunder lost 9 for 70 to grasp defeat from the jaws of victory.

Paceman Dirk Nannes produced the ball of the night to dismiss dangerman Brad Hodge (39 off 26) with a ball that beat the batsman and crashed into middle stump.

The Thunder also removed David Hussey for 32 and then bowled well at the death - taking 4 for 16 in the final overs - to keep the Stars well below a par score.

Gayle - who has been under pressure to perform after a series of failures - took 2 for 5 and ran out Stars opener Luke Wright.

He then came out firing in the Thunder's innings, hoisting paceman Jackson Bird for a massive straight six over the sightscreen in the second over.

The real fireworks came two overs later, as Gayle crashed three boundaries and another big six off John Hastings to get the Thunder off to a flyer.

Gayle flayed the attack to all parts of the ground, bringing up his 50 off just 25 balls and the visitors were 1 for 59 after six overs and cruising to victory.

The Stars tightened the bowling and Bird gave his team a lift when he took a diving catch to dismiss Matt Prior for 7, leaving Sydney 2 for 62 in the eighth over.

Gayle finally went for 65 off 43 balls, holing out in the deep to Glenn Maxwell off Dimitri Mascarenhas (2 for 27).

Then Usman Khawaja fell for 23 off 18 balls, caught in the deep by Hodge off Bird (1 for 20), and the Thunder were 4 for 100 and struggling to reach the target.

The innings disintegrated from there with Sean Abbott (3), Ryan Carters (2), Mark Cosgrove (8) and Adam Zampa (8) and Luke Doran (4) as the visitors lost confidence at the end of a terrible season.

Gurinder Sandhu was last man out for 6 off James Faulkner (3 for 24) as Sydney were dismissed for 132 with two balls left.

The Thunder had been winless in seven games this Big Bash season, and the defeat now continues the franchise's 13-match streak dating back to last season.

The result means that the Stars (10 points) join the Melbourne Renegades (12) in the finals.

The remaining places will be filled by two of the Perth Scorchers, Adelaide Strikers and Hobart Hurricanes, who are separated only by net run rate going into the final round of matches.

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, melbourne-3000, vic, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted January 08, 2013 23:01:08

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Heat beat Stars to keep finals hopes alive

Updated January 04, 2013 09:50:49

The Brisbane Heat weathered a Lasith Malinga onslaught before keeping their Big Bash finals hopes alive with a 24-run victory over the Melbourne Stars at the Gabba.

In a match where tempers frayed between Australian one-day teammates Clint McKay and Dan Christian, the Heat (5 for 171) ended the Stars' four-match winning streak with a spirited comeback on Thursday night.

Super slinger Malinga continued his destructive BBL form with an amazing 3-0 from his first 10 balls to have the home side staring at a sub-par total of 140.

But thanks largely to Shane Warne's rusty fielding and Chris Lynn's late-innings hitting, Brisbane set a respectable target which couldn't be reined in.

Dropped by Warne, his second embarrassing miss in the field, Lynn (26 not out) then helped peel off 17 runs off the final over by Malinga (3-26).

Heat skipper James Hopes followed his 49 with the bat to take 3 for 28 with the ball in a man-of-the-match performance which tormented the Stars' international-quality line-up.

Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera, in his last match for Brisbane, chimed in with 3 for 18 as the visitors were kept to 9-147.

A big crowd of 24,500 - the biggest of the season at the Gabba - lapped up the result which moves the Heat to fifth on the table with 3-3 record.

The Stars (4-2) remain in second place on eight points.

Emotions boiled over in the Heat innings when McKay and Christian engaged in a heated exchange, trading insults from close quarters, after the batsman prevented a run-out with his running line.

Warne, who won the toss and bowled first, showed his own lack of confidence in the field by calling Luke Wright to take a skied ball from Perera that landed where the 43-year-old had been standing.

Warne admitted the Stars let the home side off the hook following their impressive start.

"It was a little disappointing tonight in all three departments - our fielding and our bowling, we didn't quite get it right, and in our batting we lost wickets at crucial times," he said.

"Our last four overs went for 52 and 170 was a par score here as it was a really good wicket so we thought we could chase it down."

Hopes, who set the foundations with a two-paced 63-run second-wicket stand with surprise number three Chris Hartley, felt the Heat had some momentum after winning just one of their first four matches.

"It's a funny thing with our side, we tend to play our best when our backs are to the wall and we have to lose a few first to get on a winning streak," he said.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, brisbane-4000, melbourne-3000

First posted January 03, 2013 23:47:29

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Stars down Strikers in Adelaide

Updated December 28, 2012 10:47:16

A top-shelf showing from vintage batsman Brad Hodge inspired the Melbourne Stars to an eight-run victory against the Adelaide Strikers in Thursday night's Twenty20 match in Adelaide.

Hodge cracked a sparkling 88 from 58 balls as the Stars posted 8 for 175, with the Strikers finishing 4 for 167 in reply.

The Stars, with their fourth consecutive win, took second spot on the Big Bash League ladder from Adelaide.

The Strikers' never seriously threatened to reel in their target despite a star turn from Kieron Pollard (65 from 43 balls) and solid contributions from Callum Ferguson (35 from 28) and Tim Ludeman (30 from 21).

Adelaide's hopes of pinching a win before a sell-out 15,344 home crowd hinged on gun import Pollard.

But the West Indian could not engineer a big-hitting miracle despite whacking four sixes and five fours in his unbeaten knock.

The Strikers needed 27 to win from the final over and, after his side was mathematically out of the match, Pollard smashed two 100 metre-plus maximums and a four to add respectability to his side's score.

Melbourne's import Lasith Malinga was instrumental in restricting the home side, the Sri Lankan paceman taking 1 for 29 from four shrewd overs.

Fellow paceman James Faulkner also claimed an important 2 for 32 from four overs but his team-mate Hodge was the hero with a sensational performance with the bat.

Hodge underpinned the Stars' innings with the veteran dominating scoring - when dismissed in the 15th over, Hodge had made 88 of the visitors' 129 runs.

Two days shy of his 38th birthday, Hodge was vicious on all bowlers and plundered 10 fours and three sixes.

Hodge's assault set the Stars on a path towards a massive total, but when he was dismissed they lost momentum - his wicket started a slump of 6 for 32.

Hodge's opening partner Rob Quiney made 22 from 12 balls but no other Stars batsman passed 17 runs, while Adelaide quick Shaun Tait (2 for 36 from four overs) was the only multiple wicket taker for the home side.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, adelaide-5000, melbourne-3000

First posted December 27, 2012 23:18:04

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Malinga unavailable for Stars' must-win game

Updated January 08, 2013 16:33:41

Melbourne Stars will be without Lasith Malinga for tonight's must-win Big Bash League match against the Sydney Thunder, leading them to draft England all-rounder Dimitri Mascheranas into their squad.

It was initially expected that the Stars would have to do without David Hussey and Glenn Maxwell, but Cricket Australia has let both play before reporting to international duty ahead of Friday's ODI at the MCG.

Australia's opponents Sri Lanka have not been as lenient with Malinga, who only plays for his country in limited forms of the game, meaning he will join suspended skipper Shane Warne on the sidelines.

Test bowler Jackson Bird is likely to come into the side for Malinga.

Mascheranas, who played with Warne for Hampshire in England and the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, could provide extra depth to the star-studded batting order that has disappointed in recent games.

Victory for the Stars against the winless Thunder would see them secure a semi-final berth.

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, melbourne-3000

First posted January 08, 2013 13:41:41

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Maxwell magic enough for Stars

Updated December 21, 2012 23:21:40

Melbourne Stars glamour pair Shane Warne and Lasith Malinga made a difficult Sydney Sixers run-chase impossible as the home side notched a third straight Big Bash League win at the MCG on Friday night.

Stars batsmen Glenn Maxwell (82 off 50 balls) and Brad Hodge (51 off 33) set up the 21-run victory by blasting the first century stand of the BBL season to propel their side to 6 for 177.

Malinga (1 for 18 off four overs) and Warne (2 for 32 off four) then delivered the knock-out blows in front of a crowd of 14,260.

Sri Lankan speedster Malinga, who earlier in the series took record figures of 6 for 7, again proved himself the competition's most difficult bowler to handle, with Sixers captain Brad Haddin in no doubt he was the difference.

"He showed why he's number one in the world tonight," Haddin said.

"I thought we could chase that total on that wicket but he was just too good in the end."

With the Sixers needing to score heavily, Malinga conceded just two runs off his first over and three off his second, which sent the required run-rate sky-rocketing.

Warne helped build the pressure.

He conceded just three runs off the 14th over of the innings and then just seven off the 16th, while taking the wicket of Moises Henriques.

When Malinga returned for the 17th over, his third, and bowled danger man Haddin (39 off 28 balls), the Sixers' hopes were pretty much over.

Earlier, sloppy Sixers fielding gave Maxwell and Hodge lives early in their innings, which proved extremely costly as they put on a 118-run stand in just 11.3 overs.

The reigning champion Sixers now have one win and two losses while the Stars climbed to 3-1.

Warne said it was nice to bowl well at a crucial time himself, but he acknowledged Malinga was the key.

"He's got to be the best," Warne said.

"It would be nice if he could bowl eight or nine overs.

"He's great to have in our group.

"His execution to do what he does, he puts a shoe down on the wicket when he practises and hits it eight or nine times out of 10."

AAP

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted December 21, 2012 22:10:31

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Stars edge home past Hurricanes

Updated December 16, 2012 00:17:56

Melbourne Stars all-rounder James Faulkner has survived an appeal for handling the ball to steer his side to a tight Big Bash League win over the Hobart Hurricanes at the MCG.

Chasing just 135 to win, the Stars made tough work of their chase before getting home with five balls and four wickets in hand on Saturday night.

Faulkner was given not out off a handling-the-ball appeal in the penultimate over, bowled by medium-pacer Ben Laughlin (3 for 14), who almost proved a match-winner.

But with just five needed off Evan Gulbis' final over, Faulkner top-edged the first ball for four, before a no-ball finished the game.

The Stars had struggled early in their chase in the face of a fiery opening spell from left-arm quick Doug Bollinger, whose first two overs were just the third and fourth maidens of the BBL season.

But after reaching just 1 for 38 from their first eight overs, the introduction of New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris for the ninth proved disastrous for Hobart, yielding 21 runs including three sixes.

Despite losing three wickets in the next five overs, including two in a quality spell from Laughlin, the Stars were always likely winners from that point.

Laughlin bowled a tight 19th over, which included the appeal against Faulkner when the ball brushed his hand after he fended a delivery off his body.

Earlier, the Hurricanes struggled to 8 for 134, with Stars quicks Clint McKay (3 for 25), Faulkner (2 for 23) and in-form Sri Lankan Lasith Malinga (2 for 19) dominating with 7 for 67 between them.

Tim Paine (46 from 46 balls) was Hobart's top-scorer, while Styris (24 off 17) provided some inventive shot-making late, but Ricky Ponting (8) failed in possibly his last MCG innings.

The Stars have now won two of three games and the Hurricanes one of two.

Man of the match McKay said the Stars were building momentum but had clear areas to work on.

"We're always looking to improve and play the perfect game that coach Greg Shipperd talks about and get a bit more clinical with the batting," he said.

"But at the end of the day we got over the line and got the points and that's what we came here tonight to do and it sets us up beautifully."

Faulkner said fellow Tasmanian Laughlin was "clutching at straws" with his vehement appeal for handling the ball.

"He's like that all the time, he carries on like a two-bob watch, what you see is what you get," Faulkner said.

"Having said that, he was one of the first to come up and shake hands."

Hurricanes skipper George Bailey agreed there was nothing in it.

"Benny Laughlin gets pretty excited, I think Jimmy Faulkner gets pretty excited. They're both pretty competitive," Bailey said.

"I think even Benny when he saw the replay realised there wasn't much in it."

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, melbourne-3000, hobart-7000

First posted December 15, 2012 22:40:36

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Hughes stars for Strikers in Perth

Updated December 11, 2012 08:58:14

Phil Hughes was the star as Adelaide Strikers opened their Big Bash account with a solid six-wicket win over the Perth Scorchers at the WACA with four balls remaining.

The Scorchers won the toss and chose to bat, and a target of 170-plus was clearly the goal for Adam Voges and his men.

Some tight bowling and excellent fielding by the Strikers restricted Perth at key moments.

Shaun Marsh opened strongly for the Scorchers, hitting three fours and three sixes in his 57 off 45 balls, while Adam Voges held the innings together with 58 off 41 deliveries, and a cameo innings of 14 off five balls by Nathan Coulter-Nile helped Perth to 6 for 162 off their 20 overs.

For Adelaide, Gary Putland took 2 for 39, while Nathan Lyon, Saeed Ajmal and Johan Botha chipped in with a wicket each.

Adelaide started slowly, with just 24 runs off their first four overs, then Michael Klinger began to hit out before falling for 19 in the sixth over off Joe Mennie.

Hughes then took charge, flaying the bowling with nine fours and one six in a stellar knock of 74 off 48 balls - which took the game away from the home side - before he was out to Brad Hogg in the 15th over, leaving the Strikers at 3 for 111, still needing 52 runs to win.

Big-hitting Nathan Reardon then took over, with a powerful knock of 42 off 26 balls.

The critical moment was Reardon and Theo Doropoulos (12 off 11 balls) taking 19 runs off Ben Edmondson (1 for 35) in the 18th over.

Adelaide ticked off the total with a boundary from Doropoulos, with Hughes named man of the match.

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, perth-6000, wa, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted December 10, 2012 01:19:04

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Mendis stars in Sri Lanka one-day series win

Updated November 11, 2012 10:33:59

Jeevan Mendis grabbed three wickets as Sri Lanka clinched the one-day series against New Zealand with a comfortable seven-wicket win in the fourth match in Hambantota on Sunday morning (AEDT).

Sri Lanka achieved a rain-revised target of 131 off 32 overs with more than five overs to spare to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. The opening one-dayer was called off without a ball being bowled due to rain.

It was Sri Lanka's third successive win under the Duckworth-Lewis (D/L) method in the rain-hit series.

Opener Dinesh Chandimal (43), playing his first match of the series after replacing unfit opener Tillakaratne Dilshan, and Kumar Sangakkara (42 not out) added 87 for the second wicket to ensure their team's victory.

Sangakkara hit one six and five fours in his 55-ball knock.

"The bowlers stuck to their task. Batting under lights here was going to be tough but both Kumar and Chandimal batted very well and put up a decent partnership," said Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene.

"The win gives us an opportunity to experiment in the last game, but we will try to win."

Leg-spinner Mendis (3 for 15) earlier bowled Kane Williamson and Nathan McCullum with googlies in his third over before trapping Andrew Ellis leg-before in his next over, his three wickets coming off just five balls.

Man-of-the-match Mendis was superbly backed by fast bowler Nuwan Kulasekara, who finished with 2 for 17 off five overs.

"I have been working hard for the last couple of months. I tried my best to get the hat-trick but I am happy with the three," said Mendis

Sri Lanka, who elected to field after winning the toss in overcast conditions, put in an impressive bowling performance to restrict New Zealand.

Brendon McCullum, who smashed left-arm spinner Rangana Herath over long-off for the first six of the match, top-scored for the tourists with 30 while Williamson and James Franklin each made 21.

"Sri Lanka played smart cricket and put us under pressure from the start. We are taking positives out from this game. Our bowlers bowled very well. We hope to at least get a win and avoid 4-0," said New Zealand captain Ross Taylor.

Sri Lanka got an early wicket when Kulasekara had opener Rob Nicol (11) caught by Upul Tharanga at mid-on in his third over.

Opener Bradley-John Watling, who scored half-centuries in the last two matches, could make just 15 this time as he was run out while Taylor made six before being caught behind off seamer Thisara Perera.

New Zealand suffered another blow when hard-hitting McCullum fell attempting a big shot, caught by Chandimal at long-on off Herath after hitting one six and two fours in his 44-ball knock.

New Zealand made two changes from the side that played the last match as it brought in Ellis and debutant paceman Adam Milne in place of Kyle Mills and Jacob Oram.

The fifth and final one-day international will be played at the same venue on Monday.

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, sri-lanka, new-zealand

First posted November 11, 2012 08:38:59

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Southern Stars win World Twenty20

Updated October 08, 2012 06:11:36

Jess Cameron's show with the bat and Lisa Sthalekar's all-round skills have helped Australia retain the Women's World Twenty20 title with a close four-run victory over England.

Put in to bat, the defending champions made 4 for 142 from their 20 overs, riding on a strong opening partnership.

England lost wickets at regular intervals during their chase and required 16 off the last over but managed 11 to reach 9 for 138.

Danielle Hazel needed to hit a six off the last ball for a victory but she could get just a single sparking widespread celebrations in the Australian camp.

"So proud of this team," an emotional Australian captain Jodie Fields said during the prize distribution ceremony.

"I love this jersey. Whenever you put this jersey on, you have to fight hard.

"England played a really good match but we had the belief in our team."

Jess Jonassen picked up 3 for 25, while Sthalekar and Julie Hunter shared four wickets between them as Australia dropped a number of catches.

Skipper Charlotte Edwards (28) top-scored for England and kept the team in the hunt with four boundaries and a six, but the 2009 champions lost their way after her dismissal.

"Last 18 months we have worked towards this. It didn't go our way, but congratulations to Australia," Edwards, who was adjudged the player of the tournament, said.

"We didn't bowl well up front and just couldn't pin them. I wouldn't change the decision to bowl first. Our bowling is good, the wicket is still good.

"It still came down to six off the last ball. It wasn't to be a fairytale, but hope we have done the country proud."

Meg Lanning (25) and Alyssa Healy (26) notched up 51 for the opening wicket for Australia to build a solid platform and then Cameron (45) and Sthalekar (23 not out) added another 51 for the third to set England 143 for a win.

Reuters

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, sri-lanka, england, united-kingdom, australia

First posted October 07, 2012 23:03:34

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Southern Stars through to World Twenty20 final

Updated October 06, 2012 09:42:07

Defending champions Australia will face England in the women's World Twenty20 final after cruising past West Indies by 28 runs in Colombo.

Seamer Julie Hunter claimed 5 for 22 as the Southern Stars, restricted to 7 for 115 after electing to bat, shot West Indies out for 87 in the semi-final at the Premadasa Stadium.

Lisa Sthalekar marked her 50th Twenty20 international with a top score of 23 and then conceded just six runs in her four overs to help Hunter fashion the Southern Stars' emphatic win.

The Southern Stars take on arch rivals England in Sunday's final looking to avenge a seven-wicket defeat during the league phase in Galle.

"We have great belief in the team," Southern Stars captain Jodie Fields said.

"It would have been nice to get 140, but we knew 115 was enough with the bowling we have.

"We can't wait for the final."

The Southern Stars began the match on the wrong foot when Alyssa Healy was dismissed off the second ball and Jess Cameron fell in the third over, both wickets going to left-arm spinner Shanel Daley.

Sthalekar was supported in the recovery by Alex Blackwell (21), while Fields boosted the total with an unbeaten 19.

West Indies collapsed to 4 for 28 before Juliana Nero (31) and Daley (25) revived their hopes with a fifth-wicket stand of 48. But the last six wickets fell for 11 runs.

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, sri-lanka

First posted October 05, 2012 22:52:46

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Southern Stars into semis despite defeat

Updated October 02, 2012 09:48:09

Defending champion Australia has lost its last group match of the women's World Twenty20, going down by seven wickets to England in Galle.

The Southern Stars won the toss and elected to bat first, posting 5 for 144 from 20 overs with opener Meg Lanning scoring 39 runs from 31 balls and veteran Lisa Sthalekar contributing 38 off 28.

Despite an early breakthrough by Julie Hunter, England knocked off the runs with 11 balls to spare.

Sarah Taylor, the number one ranked women's T20 batter, played a great innings hitting 65 off 53 balls to help England's successful chase.

Southern Stars captain Jodie Fields, who took a great one-handed catch, was disappointed with the loss.

"It felt like we were right in the match right up until the last couple of overs. Our batting innings went the way we wanted it to do, we aimed for 140 and we got that target," she said.

"We have a really strong batting order and we can bat from one to 11 and I was really happy with the batting performance today.

"I guess we need to come out of this loss now and train hard over the next two days and look towards the next match."

Australia will play the West Indies in the semi-finals on Friday.

"The West Indies are a strong team and we were lucky enough to play them in a warm-up match which gave us an idea about how we can play against them," Fields added.

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, sri-lanka, australia

First posted October 02, 2012 08:15:15

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Pattinson stars as Vics skittle WA

Updated September 30, 2012 21:52:01

Test paceman James Pattinson made an impressive start to the new season by helping skittle Western Australia cheaply on the opening day of the Sheffield Shield clash at the WACA ground.

Pattinson claimed four wickets to bowl his side into a powerful position in the match and vindicate Bushrangers captain Andrew McDonald's decision to bowl first on a green wicket.

The Warriors were dismissed for 175 before tea and the Bushrangers were 3 for 144 at stumps in reply, needing just another 32 runs to claim first innings points.

McDonald, who had faced just 46 balls, was unbeaten on 59 and Peter Handscomb was on 14.

Pattinson, 22, whose promising career has already been troubled by injuries that have restricted him to just five Tests, looked ready for a big summer when taking the new ball for the Bushrangers.

Bowling with good pace and plenty of menace, he struck with his very first ball of the new campaign, clean bowling opener Liam Davis for a golden duck.

Pattinson then claimed the crucial wicket of talented young all-rounder Mitchell Marsh (6) with the last ball before lunch.

He also removed the Warriors' last hope for a big score, veteran Adam Voges (39), on his way to 4 for 30 from 14 overs.

"I am pretty pleased with where I am considering I haven't had a lot of four-day bowling, although I have done a fair bit of one-day stuff," said

Pattinson, benefiting from a new gym program and a slightly leaner physique.

"Prior to the Australian camp in Darwin I was struggling a bit for rhythm, but it has just clicked over the last month and it seems to be going really well."

Pattinson says the Bushrangers have put themselves in a commanding position in the match.

"There was a bit of green grass on the wicket and we won a good toss to win.

"The bowlers backed it up well and the batters have set it up pretty well now."

Pattinson was well supported by fellow Test quick Peter Siddle, who also enjoyed the conditions and bowled better than his figures of 2 for 53 indicated.

The Warriors were always in trouble after losing Davis and beleaguered first drop Shaun Marsh early.

Their best partnership was just 35 runs, and only some late swinging from Nathan Rimmington and Michael Hogan added respectability to the score.

Marsh's woes continued when he survived a very confident appeal for a catch at short leg on four, but made just 10 more runs before being trapped LBW by John Hastings and he is just a shadow of the batsman that made a Test century on debut.

Wicketkeeper Tom Triffitt was the most impressive of the Warriors batsmen, making 42 from 57 balls.

The Warriors, beaten by visiting New South Wales in their season-opening Shield clash two weeks ago, fought back briefly with the ball to have the Bushrangers 3 for 82, before McDonald and Handscomb steadied the innings.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, perth-6000, wa, australia, vic

First posted September 30, 2012 21:39:10

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Southern Stars account for Pakistan

Updated September 29, 2012 20:21:54

Australia remain unbeaten in the women's World Twenty20 following a 25-run victory over Pakistan in Galle.

The Southern Stars' triumph came courtesy of the Duckworth Lewis method with rain stopping play after nine overs in Pakistan's innings.

Pakistan was 3 for 38, in reply to the Southern Stars' 5 for 146.

First drop Jesse Cameron top-scored with 42 from 28 balls, having helped Lisa Sthalekar make a third-wicket stand of 67.

The Southern Stars next meet England in Galle on Monday.

Tags: cricket, sport, sri-lanka

First posted September 29, 2012 20:21:54

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Southern Stars breeze past India

Updated September 27, 2012 22:28:08

Australia cruised to an eight-wicket win over India in its opening match of the women's World Twenty20 in Galle.

The Southern Stars restricted India to 8 for 104 from its 20 overs, with Erin Osborne claiming the figures of 3 for 13.

Opener Meg Lanning then top scored with 39, helping the Southern Stars reach the victory target in the 18th over for the loss of just two wickets.

The Southern Stars next meet Pakistan in Galle on Saturday.

Tags: cricket, sport, sri-lanka

First posted September 27, 2012 22:28:08

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England stars say KP is welcome back

Updated September 04, 2012 10:47:39

Kevin Pietersen has been given hope of a return from international exile after two England stars claimed the controversial batsman would be welcomed back into the squad.

Pietersen was dropped by England after falling out with captain Andrew Strauss and his team-mates following a series of behind the scenes incidents.

The 32-year-old enraged his colleagues, who were already frustrated by his rows with England chiefs over his desire to play less one-day cricket, by sending provocative text messages to South African players that contained criticism of Strauss and coach Andy Flower.

As punishment for his behaviour, Pietersen was axed from the final Test against South Africa, the subsequent one-day series and will also be absent from England's defence of their ICC World Twenty20 crown in Sri Lanka this month.

Meanwhile, Strauss announced his retirement last week, although he insisted that shock decision was not prompted by the Pietersen storm.

With Pietersen's England future hanging by a thread, the South Africa-born star reportedly met with Flower over the weekend in a bid to start the healing process.

And he has received a further boost from England batsmen Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara, who both hope their old team-mate can return to the fold despite reports he was no longer welcome in the dressing room.

"I think everybody would like to see him back," Morgan said.

"I think the general public love watching him play, and the cricketing world do as well."

Bopara added: "It'd be nice to see him back in England colours. He's a great player; we know he's a class player. I hope for him things turn out well."

Morgan also paid tribute to his former England and Middlesex team-mate Strauss, adding: "He's a fantastic ambassador for the game, a guy you always looked up to and admired for a very, very long time - both at Middlesex and England.

"I've had the pleasure of playing under him, and I'd like to say thank you to him for (helping me) learn a hell of a lot."

AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, england, south-africa

First posted September 04, 2012 10:47:39

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Stars snare rivals' duo

Updated July 12, 2012 10:41:38

Melbourne Renegades duo Brad Hodge and Glenn Maxwell have switched camps to join the cross-town rivals the Stars in the second season of cricket's Big Bash League.

Stars chairman of selectors Ian Chappell sees the signing of the pair as an early win for the squad.

"Brad has been a very successful and popular player for Victoria throughout his career and we're looking forward to him being a stable influence on the Stars batting line-up," Chappell said in a statement on Thursday.

"Glenn is a dynamic player, capable of influencing matches in a number of different ways. He's the type of player who can energise a team and our fans.

"Signing both Brad and Glenn for multi-year deals is a fantastic result for the Stars, our fans can now be assured that household names such as Hodge will bolster their team for years to come."

Hodge is a former Test batsman who has become a Twenty20 specialist.

The 37-year-old Victorian scored 190 runs at an average of 47.50 in five matches in an injury-interrupted summer for the Renegades in 2011/12.

Maxwell, 23, is a promising all-rounder.

Leg spin great Shane Warne, who played for the Stars in last summer's inaugural season of the revamped T20 competition, has said he's keen to play on at 42 and has his eyes on the captaincy.

BBL organisers have decided to cash in on the success of cross-town derbies and the Renegades will open the second season against the Stars at Docklands on Friday December 7.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, melbourne-3000

First posted July 12, 2012 08:45:26

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Southern Stars veteran Smith retires

Updated May 16, 2012 12:07:48

Veteran women's cricketer Clea Smith has announced her retirement from all forms of the game after representing Australia for more than a decade.

The 33-year-old said it was time to move on after making her state debut for Victoria in 1997.

Smith's retirement brings to an end a 14-year career which included one Test (against England in 2005), 48 ODIs and 13 T20Is for Australia.

"I have had wonderful experiences through cricket, achieved more than I thought I ever could and it feels like there are now other things in life I want to do," Smith said.

The versatile pace bowler was part of the Australian side which won the ICC World Twenty20 title in 2010.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said Smith's experience would prove tough to replace.

"Clea has been a very important member of the Southern Stars squad and her passion and experience will be sorely missed," Sutherland said.

"We wish her every success in the future and I thank her for her commitment to Australian cricket over the last decade."

Tags: sport, cricket, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted May 16, 2012 12:07:48

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Narine stars as Windies bounce back

Updated March 19, 2012 10:58:12

A career-best one-day international haul by West Indies spinner Sunil Narine sent Australia to a five-wicket defeat in a rain-affected clash, and levelled the five-game series at 1-1 in St Vincent.

Narine claimed 4 for 27 off eight overs as Australia limped to 9 for 154 in a match shortened to 40 overs per side after a 100 minute rain delay in St Vincent.

Chasing a Duckworth-Lewis revised target of 158, the West Indies scored the winning runs in the 39th over as all-rounder Kieron Pollard compiled an unbeaten 47.

After their horror batting collapse in Friday's opening one-dayer, the Windies still had their moments during their innings with promising opener Johnson Charles (26) needlessly run out in a mix up with Darren Bravo (16).

But Pollard and Dwayne Bravo (30) shared a match-winning 64-run fifth-wicket stand before Carlton Baugh sent the capacity crowd at the Arnos Vale Ground into party mode with a six to seal the West Indies' first one-day victory over Australia since 2006.

"It's a good feeling," West Indies captain Darren Sammy said after the match. "The team played much better today, the bowlers did well again and there was much more responsibility when chasing the runs.

"We were searching for a win and we are glad we got over the line."

Australia's innings never really got going despite David Hussey (37), Shane Watson (25) and Michael Hussey (24) all making starts.

Narine used the slow pitch and his variations well while fast bowler Kemar Roach gave a good supporting hand, claiming the wickets of David Warner (13) and Peter Forrest (0) in the same over before finishing with 2 for 23 off eight overs.

"We kept on fighting but we were a little short," stand-in Australia skipper Watson said.

"Once the sun got on the wicket it seemed to settle a little more but that's the great challenge of the playing in the West Indies and we have to adapt a little better."

The Australians will not have long to bounce back from the defeat with the third match of the series to be played at the same venue on Wednesday (AEDT).

That game could be the last of opener Chris Gayle's exile from the West Indies squad with the explosive batsman watching from the stands amid reports his long-running feud with the West Indies Cricket Board had come to an end.

The reports were not confirmed but if true, Gayle may well be back in the squad in time for the fourth and fifth matches in St Lucia later this week.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines

First posted March 19, 2012 09:10:05

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Stars go down in final T20 clash

Updated March 24, 2012 14:17:53

The Australian women's cricket team won its Twenty20 series against India, despite losing the fifth and final match by eight wickets in Vizag.

The Southern Stars, who claimed a 4-1 series triumph, were dismissed for 89 with opener Leah Poulton top-scoring with 30.

India lost on two wickets in its reply, reaching the victory target in the 15th over.

Tags: cricket, sport, india

First posted March 24, 2012 14:17:53

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Southern Stars win India T20

Updated March 19, 2012 23:11:01

The Australian women's cricket team remain undefeated on their tour of India after claiming the second T20 match in Vizag.

Another unbeaten half-century to Jess Cameron (68 not out) helped the visitors to a comfortable eight-wicket win with 16 balls remaining.

After winning the toss and electing to bat India reached 3 for 111 with a run out and wickets to Julie Hunter (1 for 27) and Sarah Coyte (1 for 20) the only breakthroughs.

With the early loss of Leah Poulton (1), Cameron and Meg Lanning (40) again combined to build an integral partnership of 98 runs.

Cameron had no trouble finding the boundary during her stint at the crease, with seven fours and two sixes as she reached her total off 54 balls.

Lanning was run out in the 17th over with the visitors at 2 for 103 but Cameron notched the final runs needed for victory, with Australia finishing 2 for 115 in the 18th over.

The third T20 will be played at the same venue on Wednesday.

AAP

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, india

First posted March 19, 2012 23:09:27

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