BBL 2025-26: Melbourne Stars maintain top spot as Rauf, Clarke annihilate Sydney Thunder

The second of the Christmas weekend matches witnessed Sydney Thunder clash against the Melbourne Stars at the Manuka Oval on Sunday, December 28. The table-toppers, Melbourne Stars, won the toss and elected to field first on a bright evening in the national capital.

Sam Konstas and Matthew Gilkes opened the innings for the Thunder with the first over yielding 12 runs bowled by Glenn Maxwell. The latter was the fluent of the two as he helped the team score 11 runs in the second over. It was a promising start, but it all started to fizzle out for the Thunder soon after.

Gilkes received two lives in Haris Rauf's first over as he was dropped by the wicket-keeper Sam Harper followed by a drop-short back towards a diving Rauf. Gilkes was not third time lucky as the next ball deceived him, dismissing the opener for 24 off 13 balls. Konstas (11 off 15) was not able to find the gaps for boundaries, finally succumbing to pressure in the sixth over.

The Stars bowlers maintained tight lines, restricting the batters from freeing their hands and minds to gain momentum. David Warner and Cameron Bancroft failed to get going, scoring 10 each as the Thunder were 64/4 at the halfway mark. A 27-run partnership between Sam Billings and Shadab Khan provided a platform for the launch, but the former was caught in the deep while upping the ante.

Shadab (25 off 24) held one end up while Daniel Sams (3 off 3) and Chris Green (12 off 11) strived to support him. However, the trio were not able to boost the run rate. The Thunder innings, eventually, dragged to 128 all out off the last ball. Rauf was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 3/29.

The Stars openers came out with the intent to finish the match in a hurry. Joe Clarke and Harper scored 16 runs off the first two overs, but the real onslaught was to come next. The duo punished Ryan Hadley and Daniel Sams in the third and fourth over, scoring 16 and 20 runs respectively. The visitors were 52/0 after the first powerplay (four overs).

The Thunder bowlers looked clueless and a possible comeback seemed unlikely. Clarke reached his half-century in 29 balls and continued in the same vein. Harper looked to give as much strike to his partner as possible before Gilkes produced a stunning catch to send the dangerous Clarke (60 off 37) back at 86/1.

Glenn Maxwell (39* off 20) joined Harper (29* off 27) and looked to maintain the momentum. The Victorian scored boundaries at will as the Thunder players looked helpless in the field. There was going to be no further success for the Sydneysiders as the Stars romped home in 14 overs with nine wickets in hand. Chris Green was the sole wicket-taker on a tough evening for the Thunders. Rauf was adjudged the Player of the Match.

With this win, the Stars keep their place at the top of the table intact with four wins out of four matches played. On the other hand, the Thunder lie at the penultimate spot with one win from four games.