Sandeep Lamichhane’s dream debut of the Australian Big Bash League got even grander after the Nepali leg spinner’s Melbourne Stars entered the final of the tournament on Thursday.

In the semi-final against the Hobart Hurricanes where Lamichhane went wicketless and conceded 31 runs, Stars registered a clinical six-wicket victory on the back of a solid batting performance led by skipper Glenn Maxwell. Lamichhane will now be making his first ever final appearance out of seven global franchise leagues he has competed so far in less than a year.

Electing to field first against the table toppers following the double round robin league, fast bowler Daniel Worrall’s four-wicket haul contained Hurricanes to 153-7 in 20 overs. Afghanistan spinner Qais Ahmed took three wickets in reply to restrict Stars to 85-4 at one stage. But Maxwell and Seb Goch got involved in a match-winning 72-run partnership leading the Stars to 157-4 with seven balls to spare.

With opener D’Arcy Short doing some quick scoring, Maxwell brought Lamichhane in the fifth over but the Nepali leggie began by conceding nine runs in the first. Another leg spinner Adam Zampa did get rid of Short but Ben McDermott and George Bailey defied the bowling attack with a solid 75-run third wicket partnership.

Lamichhane conceded six runs in his second and was brought back in the 13th and bowled miserly against the McDermott-Bailey pair giving away just four runs. The decent figures got worse for Lamichhane in the 17th over when McDermott hit him for two boundaries to collect 12 runs. Lamichhane has so far taken 11 wickets in the tournament. His excellent bowling figures of 3-11 against Sydney Thunder was one of the cornerstones in leading Stars into the last four of the tournament.   

In Hurricanes’ innings, McDermott topscored for Hurricanes with a 42-ball 53 with two fours. Bailey hit two sixes in his 32-ball 37. Short struck 35 off 21 with four boundaries and two hits over the fence. Peter Handscomb matches Short for Sixers striking a 26-ball 35 with five fours and a six.

After his departure, Maxwell made 33-ball 43 not out and Gotch notched up unbeaten 22-ball 33. Stars will take on the winners of second semi-final between Melbourne Renegades and Sydney Sixers. The final is on Sunday.