BBL 2025-26: Bowlers set up easy win for Sixers at MCG

Melbourne Stars hosted the Sydney Sixers in Match 27 of the Big Bash League 2025-26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday, January 8. The visitors won the bat flip (toss) and elected to bowl first.

Wicketkeeper-batter Sam Harper and Thomas Rogers opened the batting for the Stars as Ben Manenti bowled an economical first over. Sean Abbott came on to bowl the second over and the right-armer too kept the openers quiet. However, Sixers' debutant Sam Curran was shown no respect as the English all-rounder was taken to the cleaners, his first over going for 21 runs.

It was just the kind of momentum the Stars innings needed, but the team failed to capitalise on it. Despite ending the four-over powerplay at 34 for no loss the Stars openers were put back in a shell with tight bowling from Jack Edwards and Manenti. Something had to give way and Harper was bowled off left-arm spinner Joel Davis while going for a big shot.

Rogers could not last long afterwards as the left-hander chopped on, leaving Stars at 47/2 in the seventh over. Skipper Marcus Stoinis joined Campbell Kellaway but it was another failed partnership as the latter fell for 1(3). The Sixers' bowlers were slowly creeping up on the Stars batters and the fresh pair of Stoinis and Blake Macdonald had to do the rebuilding job.

The duo played out a couple of quiet overs before Macdonald started firing fours and sixes. As Stoinis was not able to get away the onus fell on Macdonald to take risks and the 27-year-old succumbed to Ben Dwarshuis for 33(22). Glenn Maxwell came to the crease, but just like in a couple of previous matches he failed again. It was the veteran all-rounder's third consecutive score of one.

No other batter to come next got going as all of them registered single-digit scores. Even Stoinis' stuttering innings (33 off 35) came to an end at the death. The Stars were all out for 128. For the Sixers, Dwarshuis was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3.5-1-13-4.

The Stars opened the bowling with the spin of Maxwell, but it did not prove effective as the Sixers openers Babar Azam and captain Moises Henriques scored 10 runs off it. Liam Hatcher, too, went for 10 runs off his first over. The home team needed a breakthrough to make a comeback and Peter Siddle provided that by dismissing Henriques (12 off 7).

Wicketkeeper-batter Josh Philippe joined Babar and the pair saw the team through the powerplay without further damage (29/1). The batting team need not do anything silly as the required run rate was well within reach. Just when the partnership was prospering Stoinis struck, sending back Babar (14 off 17).

Philippe and Curran combined for a 27-run partnership before a brilliant catch from Rogers brought an end to the keeper's well-made 35 off 25 balls. Meanwhile, the chase was pretty much straightforward at the 10-over mark with 53 runs needed.

Jordan Silk and Curran kept the scoreboard ticking, but Stoinis struck for the second time to send back the Englishman for 17(21). Lachlan Shaw, who joined Silk, looked in a hurry to finish the match. The 23-year-old took his team home with Silk as the Sixers won the match by six wickets.

For the Stars, Stoinis was the best bowler - 2/21 from four overs. Slow left-armer Davies, for his impactful 2/15, was adjudged the Player of the Match.