Siddle's Three-Wicket Haul and Stoinis’ All-Round Brilliance Guide Stars to Winning Start

Peter Siddle finished with 3/30, and Marcus Stoinis made an unbeaten 62 off only 31 balls as Melbourne Stars began their campaign with an impressive eight-wicket victory over defending BBL champions, Hobart Hurricanes.

Melbourne Stars 159 for 2 (Stoinis 62, Kellaway 41, Hossain 2-33) beat Hobart Hurricanes 158 for 9 (McDermott 69, Siddle 3-30, Stoinis 2-18).

At 41 years, Siddle delivered a veteran performance, helping reduce the Hurricanes to 158 for 9 after the Stars' captain opted to bowl first at the MCG. The Stars chased down the target at a comfortable pace, with the final score of 159 with 24 balls remaining. Stoinis, assisted by Campbell Kellaway (41 off 27), ensured a sure victory, finishing the match with a six.

Stoinis Shines with Bat and Ball

Stoinis, named Player of the Match for his all-round performance, picked up 2 for 18 with the ball, complementing his stunning knock with the bat. His contribution was critical in helping the Stars to a perfect start to their campaign, which was further supported by Glenn Maxwell’s handy opening spell.

Maxwell, with his expert off-spin, made an early impact by dismissing the dangerous Mitch Owen in the fourth over, after a spectacular catch from Hilton Cartwright. This wicket set the tone for the Hurricanes’ downfall, with Siddle and paceman Haris Rauf cleaning up the tail, taking 4 for 6 in the final eight balls of the innings.

Siddle Continues to Prove His Worth

Siddle, who started his domestic career back in 2005, is committed to playing for the Stars after a successful 2024-25 campaign, where he took 12 wickets. The evergreen 67-Test veteran, who retired from international cricket in 2019, showed no signs of slowing down. He even stayed fit by playing in a Canadian 10-over league and representing the PM's XI against England last month.

"I just love competing, and I don't want to put out poor performances," Siddle said. "I’ve worked hard to prepare for this. I was a bit nervous; it's been a long time since I played a proper competitive game, so it was good to get it out of the way. The stuff I was doing with my strength and conditioning trainer, who works for the Vics, was very individualised because I only have to train to bowl four overs."

McDermott's Lone Effort

For the Hurricanes, Ben McDermott was the standout batter, scoring a well-made 69 in the early stages. McDermott's partnership with Tim David gave the Hurricanes some hope, but once Siddle dismissed David during the power play, the Hurricanes began to collapse.

Maxwell, one of the best fielders in the world, pulled off a crucial boundary catch to dismiss his former Australia teammate, Matthew Wade. Maxwell jumped over the rope in the boundary and threw the ball back to him, and caught it beautifully, which amazed the audience.

Stars Begin Campaign on a High Note

The Stars have made the perfect start to their campaign with this victory. They hope to be able to take this momentum into the BBL.

The next game that the Hurricanes will seek to recover is against the Melbourne Renegades, and the next game that the Stars will play will be against the Strikers on December 23 in Adelaide.