Sports
Lamichhane’s Stars lose title showdown
Nepali leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane bowled his heart out to help Melbourne Stars restrict Melbourne Renegades to a reasonable total but a dramatic batting collapse of his team saw them lose the title match by 13 runs on Sunday.Sports Bureau
Nepali leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane bowled his heart out to help Melbourne Stars restrict Melbourne Renegades to a reasonable total but a dramatic batting collapse of his team saw them lose the title match by 13 runs on Sunday.
Put into bat first in the Melbourne derby, Renegades mustered 145-5 in 20 overs and while Stars appeared coasting to title with a 93-runs first wicket stand between Ben Dunk and Marcus Stoinis, they lost seven wickets for just 19 runs eventually being restricted for 132-7 in 20 overs.
While Lamichhane returned wicketless in his four overs, he was the most economic bowlers of the stars conceding just 16 runs. Jackson Bird and Adam Zampa took two wickets each for Stars. Lamichhane, who played just eight matches from possible 16 due to his national team and Bangladesh Premier League commitments, still ended his BBL campaign on a high taking a total of 11 wickets.
Renegades had Daniel Christian and Tom Cooper to thank for posting the total. Renegades were tottering at 65-5 by the 11th over before an unbroken 80-run six wicket stand between the two lifted the Renegades total. Cooper slammed two sixes and as many fours in his unbeaten knock of 43 of 35 balls. Christian scored 38, his 30-ball unbeaten knock included two fours and a six.
Dunk and Stoinis gave a dream start to the Stars chase putting on 93 runs for the opening wicket. But Cameron Boyce triggered a remarkable Stars’ collapse by bowling out Stoinis in the last ball of the 13th over. Peter Handscomb (0), Dunk, skipper Glenn Maxwell (1), Nic Maddinson (6), Seb Gotch (2) and Dwayne Bravo (3) all lost their wickets in quick succession. Bravo was the last man out with Stars needing 34 runs to win in the last two overs. Zampa made a valiant effort with 10-ball 17 but his cameo came too late to make any difference. Chris Tremain, Boyce and man-of-the-match Christian claimed two wickets each for Renegades.