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WATCH | Stars opener goes berserk in Canberra
SEN • December 29th, 2025 9:16 am
Joe Clarke clearly wanted Sunday night’s BBL fixture over quickly.
Hailing from the exotic Shropshire (Moccona ad, anyone?), Clarke went berserk for the Melbourne Stars who demolished the Sydney Thunder in Canberra.
Clarke struck 60 off 37 balls including eight fours and a six as the Stars made light work of the run chase, reaching the meagre total set in just 14 overs with nine wickets in hand.
The knock of the Englishman, a former Scorcher and Renegade, came after the Stars bowled superbly to restrict the Thunder to just 128 in the nation’s capital.
Despite Clarke’s heroics with the bat it was Stars quick Haris Rauf who took Player of the Match honours after taking 3/29 off four overs.
The Pakistan international dismissed dangerous Thunder opener Matthew Gilkes (24 off 13) just as he was heating up, while also claiming the scalps of Sam Billings (23) and Chris Green (12).
Tom Curran (2/22), Marcus Stoinis (2/25) and Mitch Swepson (2/18) also contributed with the ball. Shadab Khan top scored for the Thunder with 25.
Rauf and Hilton Cartwright were almost caught up in a major fielding collision.
The Stars bowling unit has been damaging in BBL|15.
Rauf and Curran sit atop the wicket-takers list so far this season with nine apiece at 14 and 12 respectively narrowly ahead of veteran Peter Siddle who has taken eight at 12, while Stoinis has taken seven at 13.
As mentioned at the top, the run chase was all academic after Clarke took Thunder quicks Ryan Hadley and Reece Topley to the slaughterhouse.
He was supported by last-start ton maker Sam Harper who played an anchor role to score an unbeaten 29 (off 27). Glenn Maxwell came in at three and plundered 39 not out (off 20) with five fours and two sixes to see the Stars home with ease.
The comprehensive victory sees the Stars on top of the BBL standings with a flawless 4-0 record. They next play the Brisbane Heat at the Gabba on January 2.
The David Warner-captained Thunder are struggling in second bottom spot at 1-3 ahead of Tuesday night’s meeting with the Perth Scorchers in Sydney.
