Melbourne Stars v Sydney Thunder, Big Bash League 2015/16 final: As it happened
- Sydney Thunder win the Big Bash League after defeating Melbourne Stars in the final
- The Thunder won by three wickets
- Melbourne Stars 176/9 after 20 overs
- Sydney Thunder 181/7 in 19.3 overs
- Kevin Pietersen 74 (39), Luke Wright 23 (24)
- Shane Watson 2/17, Green 2/37
- Usman Khawaja 70 (39), Kallis 28 (27)
That brings an end to the presentation as well and it also brings an end our live coverage of the Big Bash League final. Hope you enjoyed our coverage. For more sports updates, please visit www.ibtimes.co.uk/sports.
David Hussey
We were one step closer. We got off the semi-final hoodoo. Not so sure if I will be back in charge. I will congratulate Jacques Kallis if he doesn't come back. Mike, you have won tonight. You are an icon of the game., Hope you stay involved with the game.
Mike Hussey walks into a guard of honour given by kids
Michael Hussey
It has been a great journey. To reach the summit is pretty special. I should thank the back-room staff. Thanks to the fans at the MCG. Thank you to the Stars as well. We have a lot of respect and admiration for them. I think we have a nicely balanced team. When you have three of the world's best allrounders, it makes my job special. I was actually annoyed with myself for playing a silly shot. Then I wanted to soak it up for one more time.
Sydney Thunder need 4 runs to win off 6 balls
Over 19: Sydney Thunder 173 for 7: Ben Rohrer 5 (6), Chris Hartley 0 (0)
Chris Green is the new man in the middle. Stoinis is given the ball to bowl the penultimate over of the season. He starts with a wide. FOUR...!!! Green just times the shot well and it goes above the cover fielder and the ball runs to the boundary.
A quick running between the wickets has helped him get a double. Green's mishit goes high up in the air and in the end falls safe. He gets a double, followed by a dot ball.
OUT...!!! Green goes for a big shot once again and David Hussey takes a simple catch. Chris Hartley is the new man in the middle, but will be at the non strikers end. Rohrer takes a single off the last ball.
Sydney Thunder need 14 runs to win off 12 balls
Over 18: Sydney Thunder 163 for 6: Ben Rohrer 10 (6)
Beer is brought back into the attack. Rohrer is on strike and starts with a dot ball. Chance of a run out and no trouble at the non striker's end. Rohrer takes a single off the next ball.
FOUR...!!! Blizzard slog sweeps for a boundary over the fielders inside the circle, followed by a dot ball. SIX...!!! Blizzard sweeps over deep midwicket and clears the fielder and gets maximum. He takes a quick single and a direct hit from Beer brings an end to his time in the middle.
Sydney Thunder need 25 runs to win off 18 balls
Over 17: Sydney Thunder 152 for 5: Ben Rohrer 6 (3), Aiden Blizzard 2 (3)
Stoinis is brought back into the attack and Rohrer starts the over with a single. Russell is on strike and he misses a short delivery. OUT...!!! A thick outside edge results in a simple catch to keeper Handscomb. The Stars are back into this game.
Aiden Blizzard walks in the middle and starts with a dot ball. He beats the fielder at backward point and gets a double. FOUR...!!! Blizzard swings his bat off the last ball and a misfield allows him to get a boundary towards deep midwicket.
Sydney Thunder need 32 runs to win off 24 balls
Over 16: Sydney Thunder 145 for 4: Andre Russell 10 (6), Ben Rohrer 2 (2)
Hussey on strike. Zampa has been given the ball, who will bowl his final over. Starts the over with a single. Russell takes a singe after placing it to deep midwicket. OUT...!!! Poor short selection brings an end to Michael Hussey's innings and that also brings an end to his time on Australian soil.
Ben Rohrer replaces his skipper in the middle and gets off the mark with a single. Rohrer ends the over with a single.
Sydney Thunder need 37 runs to win off 30 balls
Over 15: Sydney Thunder 140 for 3: Andre Russell 8 (4), Michael Hussey 17 (13)
Hilfenhaus is brought back into the attack and Hussey is on strike. He pulls one and takes a top edge over the keeper and gets a double. FOUR...!!! Hussey finds the gap on the off side and the ball races between deep cover and deep extra cover boundary, followed by a single.
Russel is on strike and plays sensible cricket by taking a single. Hussey takes a single towards mid off. Russell ends the last ball with a dot ball.
Over 14: Sydney Thunder 131 for 3: Andre Russell 7 (2), Michael Hussey 8 (8)
David Hussey has brought himself into the attack. He starts to his brother Michael and gets off the single. A dot ball to Khawaja as he gives it straight back to the bowler. OUT...!!! Khawaja gets out by giving a simple catch to Worrall at point.
Andre Russell replaces him in the middle. SIX...!!! Russell smashes one over cow corner for a six, followed by a single. Hussey then takes a single off the last ball.
Over 13: Sydney Thunder 122 for 2: Usman Khawaja 70 (38), Michael Hussey 7 (7)
Stoinis will bowl his second over and Hussey is on strike. He just nudges to third man for a single and gets Khawaja on strike. It is followed by another single. Hussey takes a comfortable double after a misfield at square leg. He gets a single after pulling it over mid wicket.
A wide outside followed by a single from Khawaja. A mishit and the ball lands just behind short third man, resulting in a single.
Over 12: Sydney Thunder 114 for 2: Usman Khawaja 68 (36), Michael Hussey 2 (3)
Zampa to Khawaja and the umpire turns down his appeal for a leg before wicket. Gets a leg bye. Hussey takes a single and brings Khawaja on strike. SIX...!!! He walks down the ground and smashes over the ball to get maximum. That brings Sydney Thunder's 100.
FOUR...!!! No ball and Khawaja pulls one to fine leg for a boundary. He will get a free hit. He pulls one to deep midwicket and gets two runs, followed by a wide on the leg side. Khawaja ends the over with a double off the last ball.
Over 11: Sydney Thunder 96 for 2: Usman Khawaja 54 (30), Michael Hussey 1 (2)
Watson is on strike and Marcus Stoinis replaces Gulbis in the bowling attack. Watson pulls it deep square leg and gets a single. A wide on the off side. A thick outside edge beats keeper Handscomb and gets a single,
OUT...!!! Watson digs in and ends up giving a simple catch to David Hussey at midwicket. Michael Hussey walks in to bat for one last time on Australian soil and starts with a dot ball. He then gets off the mark with a single. Khawaja will retain strike with a single off the last ball.
Over 10: Sydney Thunder 91 for 1: Usman Khawaja 52 (28), Shane Watson 5 (5)
Zampa to continue with the spin. OUT...!!! Kallis come out the crease and smashes it to long on, only for Kevin Pietersen to take a fantastic catch. Shane Watson replaces Kallis and will keep the strike.
Watson starts with a dot ball. He then beats mid wicket and gets two runs to get off the mark. A dot ball is followed by a double towards deep extra cover. A single to end the over.
Over 9: Sydney Thunder 86 for 0: Usman Khawaja 52 (28), Jacques Kallis 28 (26)
Gulbis will continue and Khawaja takes a single after placing it to deep point. Kallis then rotate the stroke by taking a single. SIX...!!! Khawaja pulls one over the cow corner and gets a maximum.
Gulbis is under pressure and he bowls a wide. A quick single and he goes on to reach his four consecutive 50 plus score, followed by one more run for Kallis. He drives towards deep extra cover and gets two runs off the last ball.
Over 8: Sydney Thunder 73 for 0: Usman Khawaja 42 (24), Jacques Kallis 26 (24)
David Hussey is having a chat with Khawaja in the middle. Adam Zampa is introduced into the bowling attack. Kallis starts with an easy single and gets Khawaja on strike, who then pulls it to fine leg for a single.
Kallis came close to getting dismissed as the ball lands right in front of the fielder, followed by a single to long on. A dot ball from Khawaja is followed by a wide on the leg side. A single off the last ball.
Over 7: Sydney Thunder 68 for 0: Usman Khawaja 40 (21), Jacques Kallis 24 (21)
Evan Gulbis is introduced into the attack and replaces Worrall. Starts with an off cutter and Khawaja pulls one to deep square leg for a couple. Big shout on the full and the umpire nods his head as it pitched outside leg. Hawk-eye suggests otherwise.
A quick running between the wickets helps him get a double. A play and a miss outside off stump. No wide called. Khawaja pulls one towards long on and gets a single. Kallis off the back foot and takes one run off the last ball.
Over 6: Sydney Thunder 62 for 0: Usman Khawaja 35 (16), Jacques Kallis 23 (20)
Beer continuous and Kallis starts with a dot ball. FOUR...!!! Kallis places it to deep point boundary followed by FOUR...!! past the cover. It is followed by two dot balls. Last ball of the power play ends with a dot ball.
Over 5: Sydney Thunder 54 for 0: Usman Khawaja 35 (16), Jacques Kallis 15 (14)
Khawaja is on strike and Worrall is in his third over. He pulls one past mid on and gets a double. Khawaja beats fielder a point and fielder cuts in, allowing him to get three runs. FOUR..!!! Short ball and Kallis works it behind the square leg for a boundary, followed by a single. A dot ball followed by wide on the leg side, which brings Thunder's 50. FOUR...!!! Khawaja plays a scoop to end the over with a boundary.
Over 4: Sydney Thunder 39 for 0: Usman Khawaja 26 (12), Jacques Kallis 10 (12)
Hilfenhaus is replaced by Michael Beer as spin is introduced. Kallis is on strike and starts with a dot ball. He then gets off the strike with a single to long on. Khawaja flicks it on the leg side for a single.
FOUR...!!! Kallis smashes to long on and beats the fielder for a boundary. His first one of the evening. Two dot balls to finish the over.
Over 3: Sydney Thunder 33 for 0: Usman Khawaja 25 (11), Jacques Kallis 5 (7)
Worrall to bowl his second over. FOUR...!!! Khawaja smashes it to deep extra cover and then whops it to midwicket and gets a double. Worrall comes round the wicket and he flicks it to short fine leg for a single.
Kallis takes a quick single and gets Khawaja back on strike. SIX...!!! Khawaja smashes over long on for his first six of the match and finishes the over with a double off the last ball.
Over 2: Sydney Thunder 17 for 0: Usman Khawaja 11 (6), Jacques Kallis 4 (6)
Khawaja is on striker and Ben Hilfenhaus starts with the ball from the other end. FOUR...!!!
A straight drive helps him get a boundary off the first ball of the over, followed by a leg bye. Kallis clears mid off, but does not manage to reach the boundary - gets double. It is followed by a single.
FOUR...!!! Khawaja smashes over mid on for a boundary followed by a quick single off the last ball.
Over 1: Sydney Thunder 4 for 0: Usman Khawaja 2 (2), Jacques Kallis 1 (4)
Usman Khawaja and Jacques Kallis will open the innings for Thunder. David Worrall has been given the new ball to open the bowling division. Khawaja is on strike and Thunder gets off the mark with a wide on the leg side.
Khawaja gets off the mark with a single to third man. Kallis is on strike and he is welcomed with an in-swinging yorker, followed by a dot ball. A late outswing outside the off stump and Kallis gets off the next ball with a single. Man out at deep midwicket for a single to end the over.
Over 20: Melbourne Stars 176 for 9: Ben Hilfenhaus 0 (1)
McKay to bowl the final over of the innings. Zampa finds the gap between backward point and short third man and gets three runs, which brings Gulibs on strike. He then takes a single to long on, followed by a single from Zampa.
OUT...!!! Gulibs sends it straight down the ground and a wanted a double. A direct hit brings an end of Zampa in the middle. Ben Hilfenhaus is the new man and is on the non striker's end. OUT...!!! Gulibs pulls one over midwicket and Green pulls off a fantastic catch to save six runs for his side.
OUT...!!! A swing and a miss off the last ball and the keeper hits the stump. Daniel Worrall runs to the strikers end and Hartley throws at the stumps. Team hattrick and the third umpire gives him out.
Over 19: Melbourne Stars 170 for 6: Adam Zampa 11 (8), Evan Gulbis 14 (8)
Russell to bowl his final over and Zampa takes a single off the first ball. An appeal from Russell is turned down by the umpire. FOUR...!!! Gulibs smashes one to deep midwicket for a boundary, followed by a dot ball. An easy single and Zampa ends with a single.
Over 18: Melbourne Stars 163 for 6: Adam Zampa 8 (6), Evan Gulbis 9 (4)
McKay, who has conceded 25 runs off first two overs is back into the attack, replacing Green. Zampa starts the over with a quick single and gets Gulibs on strike, followed by another quick single.
FOUR...!!! Slow short ball and Zampa cuts it past the backward point fielder for a boundary. followed by a dot ball. DROPPED...!!! Rohrer puts down one at long off and that allows Zampa to com back for a double and ends the over with a single.
Over 17: Melbourne Stars 154 for 6: Adam Zampa 1 (1), Evan Gulbis 8 (3)
Evan Gulbis is the new man in the middle. Russell comes back into the attack and starts with a wide. FOUR...!!! The ball bounces just ahead of Hartley and it goes for a boundary.
OUT...!!! Quiney ends up giving a simple catch to Russell and that brings in Adam Zampa the middle. Melbourne Stars have two new batsmen in the middle. Zampa gets off the mark with a quick single.
FOUR...!!! Full toss and Gulibs flicks it to square leg boundary. What a way to get off the mark. A short one is called wide and that brings 150 for Melbourne Stars. Last ball off the over and FOUR...!!! and it takes a top edge and goes behind the keeper for a boundary.
Over 16: Melbourne Stars 139 for 5: Rob Quiney 2 (2)
Green to bowl his final over and Quiney is on strike. Starts with a single and brings Pietersen on strike. Good running between the wickets allows him to get back for a double.
A dot ball and that frustrates Pietersen, which sees the crowd cheering him. A sweep results in a double, followed by another double. Sydney Thunder need a wicket here. OUT...!!! There is an appeal for caught and bowled and it is a straight simple catch to Green.
Over 15: Melbourne Stars 132 for 4: Rob Quiney 1 (1), Kevin Pietersen 68 (34)
Kallis comes back into the attack. SIX...!!! Slower delivery and Pietersen smashes straight down the ground and gets maximum, followed by a single. Hussey takes a quick single and brings back Pietersen back on strike.
A quick bouncer takes Pietersen by surprise and ends up taking a single as he gets a top edge. OUT...!!! Hussey looks to slice, but misses the ball and it hits the stump. That brings an end to his time in the middle. Rob Quiney joins in the middle and gets off the mark with a single.
Over 14: Melbourne Stars 122 for 3: David Hussey 20 (12), Kevin Pietersen 60 (31)
Clint McKay brought back into the attack and Pietersen is on strike, who starts the over with a single. David Hussey takes an easy single, followed by one more run which brings Hussey back on strike. Four singles off first four deliveries. FOUR...!!! Last ball and Hussey adjusts his body to hook past the short fine leg fielder for a boundary.
Over 13: Melbourne Stars 113 for 3: David Hussey 14 (9), Kevin Pietersen 57 (28)
Green with spin and starts with a dot ball. SIX...!!! Hussey smashes it over long on for a six and then FOUR...!!! pulls it to deep square leg, followed by a single. Pietersen takes a single and gets David Hussey on strike to face the last ball, which ends up with a dot ball.
Over 11: Melbourne Stars 92 for 3: David Hussey 1 (1), Kevin Pietersen 49 (24)
Green starts the over with two singles. FOUR...!!! Handscomb cuts it and gets a boundary behind the keeper. OUT..!!! He then looks to clear midwicket and ends up giving a simple catch to Michael Hussey.
David Hussey replaces Handscomb and gets of the mark with a single. SIX...!!! Pietersen ends the over with a six over long on. He moves onto 49.
ZING! The Thunder needed that one. Watson is PUMPED! A slower ball bouncer does the trick as Wright chops on for 23. Stars 2-50 #BBLFinal
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 24, 2016
Over 9: Melbourne Stars 69 for 2: Peter Handscomb 1 (3), Kevin Pietersen 32 (17)
Chris Green partners Ahmed with spin from the other end. Handscomb faces for the first strike and no run off the first two deliveries, followed by a single to fine leg. Nicely bowled by Green, short of a length and ends up in a single. Wide down the leg side followed by a single. Single off the last ball.
Over 8: Melbourne Stars 64 for 2: Peter Handscomb 0 (0), Kevin Pietersen 32 (16)
Peter Handscom is the new man in the middle, while there is also a change in the bowling Fawad Ahmed starts with a spin. SIX...!!! Pietersen smashes down the ground for a single, followed by a dot ball.
Pietersen then flicks it and there was a chance of a runout at the non strikers end, only for Hussey to miss the chance as he drops the ball. It is followed by another easy single. Two dot balls is followed by FOUR...!!! as Pietersen sweeps it past the short fine leg for a boundary off the last ball.
Over 7: Melbourne Stars 50 for 2: Kevin Pietersen 18 (10)
Watson is brought back into the attack in the seventh over. Pietersen starts the over with a single after pulling it to deep midwicket. Another single to long on from Wright followed by a single to Pietersen.
FOUR...!!! Watson bowls on the leg stump with a bit short of length. Front foot slog from Wright and smashes it to deep midwicket. That brings Melbourne Stars 50. OUT..!!! Bottom edge and hits the stumps as it brings an end to Wright's time in the middle.
Over 6: Melbourne Stars 43 for 1: Luke Wright 18 (20), Kevin Pietersen 16 (8)
Kallis bowling his second over and the Thunder have an interesting field, with two catching fielders at the mid wicket. FOUR..!!! Pietersen walks down and clear the mid on fielder for a boundary.
That's followed by two dot balls. FOUR...!!! Poor bowling from Kallis. Change of pace and allows Pietersen to free his arms and he manages to beat it between the two players on the off side for a boundary followed by a single. Kallis ends the over with a dot ball.
Over 5: Melbourne Stars 34 for 1: Luke Wright 18 (19), Kevin Pietersen 7 (3)
Hussey goes back to Russell. Wright on strike and gets a full delivery. He looks to beat the bowler, but is restricted by a fielder. A short ball is called a wide and it takes Russell by a surprise.
A quick short delivery ends up in a dot ball. Change of pace and it confuses Wright. A bouncer on Wright's face and he looks to get away from the ball and ends up pulling it. Results in a single to fine leg.
Pietersen is on strike and a full delivery, ends up in a double with a misfield. A slower delivery on the leg side ends up in a wide. Russell ends the over with a single off the inside edge to fine leg.
Over 4: Melbourne Stars 28 for 1: Luke Wright 17 (15), Kevin Pietersen 4 (1)
Double change in the bowling as Jacques Kallis ins introduced, replacing Watson. Wright is on strike and starts with a dot ball. FOUR...!!! Too slow, short and straight and Wright pulls it to the fine leg, beating the man inside the circle for a boundary.
Boundary is followed by two dot balls. Swing and a miss off a slower delivery takes Wright by a surprise. Four runs off the first five balls. Gets it on the hip and pulls it for a single to end the over.
Over 3: Melbourne Stars 23 for 1: Luke Wright 12 (9), Kevin Pietersen 4 (1)
Clint McKay replaces Russell and Wright, who took a single off the last ball of the previous over is on strike. Puts it away on the leg side and gets a double after flicking it to deep square leg - gets two runs. It is followed by a dot ball.
Second wide of the innings and this time, as on the previous occasion is on the leg side. SIX, Wright unleashes and smashes one to long on for a six as it goes straight to the Stars dugout. First six of the final. Wright beats the man at the point and gets a double. Mis-field allows Wright to take a single, allowing Pietersen to face his first ball.
One slip in place for Pietersen, who will face the final ball. He walks away from the stumps and flicks it to leg side for a boundary off the first ball.
Over 2: Melbourne Stars 7 for 1: Luke Wright 1 (4), Kevin Pietersen 0 (0)
Michael Hussey hands the ball to Shane Watson to partner Russell from the other end. Stoinis is on striker and the ball skids to the keeper as he misses a chance for a square cut. OUT. Stoinis looks to clear the circle, but ends up giving a simple catch to Andre Russell at mid off.
Luke Wright crosses and manages to get the stroke with his compatriot at the other end. Watson follows up a wicket with two dot balls. No run off the first five deliveries and whips through the get off the mark. A wicket and a run off this over.
Over 1: Melbourne Stars 6 for 0: Marcus Stoinis 5 (6), Luke Wright 0 (0)
Marcus Stoinis and Luke Wright open the batting for the Stars, while Andre Russell has been handed the new ball. Starts with a surprise as Stoinis blocks the ball, before flicking it to deep square leg for the first runs on the board for a boundary.
A dot ball is followed by a first extra run of the match with a wide on the leg side. Russell loses balance and trips. Another dot ball is followed by a quick bouncer. Good pace and it takes Stoinis by surprise, who finishes the over with a single to fine leg.
Dre Russ has a hit in the warm ups. And he's hitting them well! #ThunderNation #BBLFinal pic.twitter.com/RcXs6BRn0d
— Sydney Thunder (@ThunderBBL) January 24, 2016
Big Bash League gets it's 1 millionth fan walked through the stadium.
With record crowds in #BBL05, we find it fitting that the 1,000,000th fan has walked through the 'G tonight! #Thanks pic.twitter.com/7BNN6yhImh
— Melbourne Stars (@StarsBBL) January 24, 2016
No change in Melbourne Stars lineup that defeated Perth Scorchers in the second semi-final. The Big Bash League's official Twitter account has got their team news incorrect as they mentioned Zampa twice in their lineup.
No change to our lineup from the Semi Final win. Can we make history? First ball at 7.20pm #GoStars #BBLFinal pic.twitter.com/9xkrkfKlnv
— Melbourne Stars (@StarsBBL) January 24, 2016
.@ThunderBBL win the toss and will BOWL first in the #BBLFinal pic.twitter.com/gwlfor1Dke
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 24, 2016
What a cracking day for the #WBBLFinal and #BBLFinal at the @MCG ☀️?? pic.twitter.com/B892QFafPC
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 24, 2016
CONFIRMED XI
Melbourne Stars: Marcus Stoinis, Luke Wright, Kevin Pietersen, Peter Handscomb (wk), David Hussey (c), Rob Quiney, Evan Gulbis, Adam Zampa, Ben Hilfenhaus, Daniel Worrall, Michael Beer
Sydney Thunder: Jacques Kallis, Usman Khawaja, Shanw Watson, Mike Hussey (c), Aiden Blizzard, Ben Rohrer, Andre Russell, Chris Green, Chris Hartley (wk), Clint McKay, Fawad Ahmed
Click here to read IBTimes UK's preview of the 2015/16 Big Bash League final between Melbourne Stars and Sydney Thunder.
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