BBL 2025-26, Match 34 Review: Tom Curran fires Stars into playoffs

Melbourne Stars recorded a dominant victory over Adelaide Strikers in Match 34 of the Big Bash League (BBL) 2025-26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday, January 13.

The hosts opted to bowl first, and the call paid rich dividends as they bundled the Strikers for a paltry 83, their second-lowest total in the BBL. The Strikers perennially struggled for rhythm despite spending 19.3 overs in the middle, with only Liam Scott and Cameron Boyce getting double-digits against their name.

The trouble started as early as the second over when Tom Curran had Alex Carey caught at mid-off, where Haris Rauf plucked a brilliant diving catch, but threw the ball in celebration a little too early to cast questions on the legitimacy of the catch. However, Carey was sent back without the call being referred upstairs.

Curran continued his onslaught in the powerplay, pinning Chris Lynn lbw before Jason Sangha tried to attack him and holed out to cover. Curran scalped three wickets inside the powerplay while Peter Siddle struck once, removing Matthew Short cheaply as Strikers could not score a single boundary in the powerplay. Curran made his outing a career best when he induced a faint edge of Scott’s bat to get his fourth wicket, with wicketkeeper Harper grabbing a regulation catch behind.

The slide continued as the 40 for 4 became 55 for 9 in little time as Mitchell Swepson struck thrice. He cleaned up Overton, Hasan Ali holed out to deep mid-wicket, while Lloyd Pope was stumped for a duck. In between, Marcus Stoinis pinned Harry Manenti lbw with a deceptive slower one. Boyce showed some resistance, scoring 20 to help the Strikers evade the ignominy of posting their lowest BBL score.

Curran ended with sensational figures of 4/10 in his four overs at an economy rate of just 2.50 while Swepson claimed 3/22 from his four overs.

Chasing just 84, Melbourne Stars reached the target in 15.1 overs but not without being tested. The pitch was on the slower side in the second innings as well, making run-scoring tricky. Harper was caught at deep backward point by sub fielder Mackenzie Harvey, who grabbed a stunner diving forward. Campbell Kellaway mistimed Hasan to mid-on as Stars were reduced to 13 for 2 inside the powerplay.

Scott dismissed Blake Macdonald in his second spell, but contributions from the rest of the batting unit took Stars past the finish line. Thomas Fraser Rogers top-scored with 32, while Stoinis added 23 before retiring hurt as Stars freed their hands with the introduction of spin. Scott was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2/12 in 2.1 overs.