BBL 2016/17: Ben Hilfenhaus’ All-Round Show Seal Close Win For Melbourne Stars over Adelaide Strikers
Jan 10, 2017 at 7:20 PM
Melbourne Stars bowler Ben Hilfenhaus picked up two wickets and scored an unbeaten 32 to see his side home by two wickets in a close contest against Adelaide Strikers in Melbourne on Tuesday.
Batting first after losing the toss, Adelaide Strikers started off well, managing 60 odd runs in seven overs. Youngster Liam Bowe, a left-arm Chinaman by nature, picked up opener Dunk on 35 after Scott Boland dismissed Weatherald on just 11.
Skipper Brad Hodge and Tim Ludeman then steadied the ship with some lusty boundaries, but their efforts were cut down by Boland, who picked up four wickets in the match.
Before Melbourne could take hold of their innings, Pollard stepped in and hammered a quick fired 16. Accompanied by Jono Dean on the other side, Strikers crawled their innings past 150 runs for eight wickets, in the end, leaving 153 to chase for the hosts.
In their reply, Melbourne swiftly touched the 40-run score and later lost the Englishmen Luke Wright on nine before losing another opener Rob Quiney on 31. Wickets seem to tumble on each end, as they were reduced for 84 for five with only Kevin Pietersen remaining as the recognised batsman.
In the quest to chase the target for his side, Kevin was found short of the crease on 32, handing strikers their sixth wicket of the innings.
Wicket-keeper Evan Gulbis and Ben Hilfenhaus then stitched together 37 runs for the seventh-wicket partnership. Laughlin by picking up two quick wickets pulled the game back for the Strikers, but couldn’t see his side home eventually.
Hilfenhaus, then in the last over, guided his side over the winning line with two wickets in hand.