Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder, Challenger - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

That is all from the MCG for this Big Bash season. Rain threat looms large for the final at the SCG and we might, most likely witness a shortened game on Saturday. Do remember to tune in early to catch all the updates from that one. Until next time, cheers and goodbye!!

Nick Larkin, MoM: Huge sort of sense of relief in our conversation (satisfied to reach the final). We knew if we played our best cricket, we are going to be right up there. It (his knock) was great, I think I got a bit lucky early on. Stoinis tried to keep me in the game all the time and I tried to hit the ball hard and into the gaps. I think in a couple of games in the tournament I've kept him (Stoinis) in the game, and he did that for me tonight. It's a final so we need to play our best. They (Sixers) are a quality outfit, so we know it's going to be a tough game.

23:00 local: Chasing 195, the last thing you'd want as a batting team is to lose the top three inside the powerplay. Sydney Thunder got off to the worst possible start, losing their most in-form batsman Alex Hales to a run-out and that dent proved too tough to be replaced as they struggled to catch up with the required run rate for most part of the chase. Alex Ross staged a lone battle with an impressive fifty, but he lacked able support from the other end and cameos from Morris and Nair weren't just enough on the big day. Overall, it has been a fantastic season for Thunder and they'd be proud of the way they stuck together as a team despite some tough games early on in the tournament.

Haris Rauf to Tremain, no run, swings and misses and that's it. Mark the date folks: It's Sydney Sixers v Melbourne Stars at the SCG on Saturday (8 February) for the BBL 09 final. The Stars win by 28 runs and its their second successive entry into the finals and third overall

Haris Rauf to Tremain, no run, fiery bumper on the stumps, Tremain spots it late and sways away from the line of fire

Haris Rauf to Tremain, no run, exposes his stumps and looks for a big slog over cover, no dice. Done for lack of pace!

Haris Rauf to McAndrew, 1 run, length ball on the stumps, heaved away to mid-wicket

Chris Tremain, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Haris Rauf to Lenton, out Caught by Maddinson!! Huge heave-ho. Gets a lot of height on this and Maddinson had to run a good few metres from deep mid-wicket to hang on to the high ball. Fumbles on the first attempt and then composes himself on the dive to catch the rebound. Lenton c Maddinson b Haris Rauf 10(7) [4s-1]

Haris Rauf to Lenton, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Haris Rauf to McAndrew, leg byes, 1 run, pacy full delivery at the pads, McAndrew misses the flick and sprints across to steal a leg bye

31 needed from 6

Coulter-Nile to Lenton, 2 runs, slower and fuller wide of off, Lenton drags it off the toe-end to the left of long-on

Coulter-Nile to McAndrew, leg byes, 1 run, early into the pull and the leg-cutter hits him on the thigh before rolling into the leg-side

Coulter-Nile to Lenton, 1 run, slower full ball outside off, Lenton makes room and slaps it off the toe-end to the right of extra cover

Coulter-Nile to Lenton, 2 runs, swivels and pulls the short ball square on the leg-side

Coulter-Nile to Lenton, FOUR, goes back and across and throws the kitchen sink at a length delivery outside off, thick edge and it flies over the keeper to his left

Nathan McAndrew, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Coulter-Nile to Daniel Sams, out Caught by Nick Larkin!! Daniel Sams goes, he had to. Unfortunately for the Thunder, they don't have too many options but look for the big hits. Sams looks to heave this from outside off and doesn't get enough contact off the meat of the bat, offers catching practice to the fielder at deep mid-wicket. Daniel Sams c Nick Larkin b Coulter-Nile 3(6)

Coulter-Nile to Daniel Sams, THATS OUT!! Caught!!