On December 18, 2025, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Stars chased down Hobart Hurricanes’ total of 158/9 with 8 wickets in hand and 24 balls to spare, securing a comfortable victory. Despite a strong individual performance from Ben McDermott (69), the Hurricanes’ batting faltered, while the Stars’ chase was led by a brilliant partnership between Marcus Stoinis and Campbell Kellaway, ensuring the Stars reached their target with ease.
Hobart Hurricanes’ batting woes lead to low total
Opting to bat first, the Hobart Hurricanes struggled to build partnerships and were restricted to 158/9 in their 20 overs. Ben McDermott was the only batter who provided some resistance, scoring a well-made 69 off 52 balls, including 5 fours and 2 sixes. However, the rest of the batting order crumbled under pressure, with Tim David (31) and Matthew Wade (11) failing to convert starts. The Melbourne Stars’ bowlers were disciplined throughout, with Peter Siddle leading the charge, taking 3 wickets for 30 runs and effectively breaking the momentum in the middle overs. Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell also contributed, keeping the run rate under control and preventing the Hurricanes from accelerating in the latter stages.
Melbourne Stars’ steady chase with Marcus Stoinis and Campbell Kellaway at the helm
In response, the Melbourne Stars began their chase solidly, with Thomas Rogers (30) and Joe Clarke (20) getting them off to a decent start. However, it was the pair of Marcus Stoinis and Campbell Kellaway that truly took charge. Stoinis, in particular, played an explosive knock of 62 off 31 balls*, smashing 7 fours and 2 sixes. Kellaway supported him well, finishing on 41 off 27 balls*. Together, they constructed a match-winning partnership, taking the Stars to their target of 159 with 24 balls remaining, and 8 wickets in hand. The Hurricanes’ bowlers struggled to break the partnership, and the Stars reached the target easily, with Stoinis and Kellaway finishing the job in style.
A comprehensive win for the Stars as they chase down 159 with ease in 16 overs 👏#BBL2025 #MelbourneStars pic.twitter.com/OToKcLQISD
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) December 18, 2025
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