It's day two of the Big Bash and it pits the Adelaide Strikers up against the Melbourne Stars. After the 'Thunder' storm yesterday, will the Stars light up the stage? Or will the Strikers prove a point in front of their raucous fans at the majestic Adelaide Oval? After a successful campaign for the Dolphins in the Ram Slam, Kevin Pietersen returns for the Stars - so does Luke Wright. The Strikers have their own English signing, in Adil Rashid - not to forget the classy Mahela Jayawardene. It should be another night of entertainment.
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It isn't just the overseas stars who will hog all the limelight. The likes of Glenn Maxwell, David Hussey, James Faulkner and Brad Hodge will bring out the best out of the Australian spirit. It should be a rocking night at Adelaide Oval. Toss and team updates in a while..
David Hussey has won the toss and the Stars will bowl first at the Adelaide Oval. Safe choice in a T20 if you are not entirely convinced what the pitch would do.
Teams from:
Adelaide Strikers (Playing XI): Craig Simmons, Tim Ludeman(w), Mahela Jayawardene, Travis Head(c), Brad Hodge, Alex Ross, Michael Neser, Adil Rashid, Kane Richardson, Ben Laughlin, Gary Putland
Melbourne Stars (Playing XI): Marcus Stoinis, Luke Wright, David Hussey(c), Glenn Maxwell, Kevin Pietersen, Peter Handscomb(w), James Faulkner, Scott Boland, John Hastings, Adam Zampa, Michael Beer
Melbourne will start with spin and Mike Beer will bowl. Single off the first two balls and Craig Simmons is no mood to let the spinner settle down. Hammers one over the cow corner and then follows it up that just evades the square-leg fielder. 14 for no loss after the first over.
And there's the first wicket. Simmons was looking to be aggressive. Boland bowled this one wide and full outside off. The left-hander made room to hammer it over the off-side field. Gets a top edge and the ball flies to third man. Hastings takes an easy catch and Mahela Jayawardene walks in to bat at No. 3.
Full one outside off from Faulkner leaving Jayawardene. He wanted to leave that one alone but the ball took the outside half of the bat and carried comfortably to the keeper. Handscomb dives to his right but fails to hold onto it.
And Melbourne have another one. Tossed up on off and Ludeman comes down the track to launch it over the mid-on fielder but fails to connect. Handscomb, after missing a stumping on the previous delivery, makes no mistake this time. Adelaide 37 for 2 after 4.4.
And there's the big one. Length ball outside off, Jayawardene sees the width and tries to pounce on it. Gets a thick outside edge and presents a simple catch to Handscomb. Adelaide are 38 for 3 and are in the middle of a wobble.
Length ball outside off, Head went for the cut and got a thick outside edge. The replays suggested that ball bounced in front of the keeper but the on-field umpire had already given him out. He clearly look unhappy with that decision. "We're going okay. Lost couple of wickets but we've shown intent. He (Head) really impresses me a lot. Adil Rashid has a big future ahead of him," says Jason Gillespe, the Adelaide coach, as things unfold.
Adelaide are 88 for 4 after 13 overs and need a Hodge special. Adam Zampa will bowl. If they score at eight runs per over from here, they'll get to 144. That should give the bowlers something to work with. Credit where due - Melbourne have pulled things back beautifully after a brisk start. Alex Ross too looks in good touch but it'll all come down to how Hodge performs today.
Beer ends with 1 for 32 from his four overs. Adelaide are now on 124 for 4 and have 24 more deliveries to set up a cracking chase. Hodge knows that and dispatches the first ball from Hastings over the cow corner. This should be fun. Both batsmen looking to attack. No, no, no, Hastings bowls a no ball. Hodge fails to capitalise and gets just a couple from the free hit.
The table have turned. Ross races to his half-century off just 25 balls, his first half-century in Big Bash. Adelaide clearly on top and these two have added 101 runs off 53 to take the team to 165 for 4.
And that's the end of the first innings. This has been a great recovery from the Adelaide. They were struggling at 64 for 4 but Brad Hodge (56 not out) and Alex Ross (65) added 115 runs for the fifth wicket off just 61 balls to take the teams to a formidable score. Adelaide made a brisk start but lost their way before the Hodge-Ross collaboration got them out of the rut and propel them to 187 for 5.
Adelaide Strikers have missed three chances of dismissing the Melbourne Stars' openers within the first nine balls of the innings. Marcus Stoinis had an itchy start. Was first dropped by Simmons in the slip and then top-edged one to Time Ludeman, the 'keeper, which was spilled as well.
What's going on with the Strikers?!
Stoinis and Wright have made a positive start, with some help from the Adelaide fielders. Four chances have been grassed and Adelaide need some quick wickets now. Simmons spilled a sitter while Ludeman dropped a tough one. The openers are taking the gave away from Adelaide real quick at the moment. They are now 53 for no loss after the Power Play.
And there's the first breakthrough for Adelaide. Wicket for Adil Rashid. Bowls one on the stumps and Wright goes back to flick it but disturbs the stumps with his foot. KP walks in to bat at No. 3.
Half-century for Stoinis. It took the opener just 41 balls and Melbourne are on 90 for 1 in 11 overs. Kevin Pietersen with with him and the chase looks on track at the moment, Adelaide need to strike quickly claw their way back in the game.
Stoinis falls just after getting to his half-century. Slower ball on the leg stump, he flicks it straight to Richardson at deep mid wicket. Melbourne now need 98 off 53 balls. Glenn Maxwell walks in to bat. This will be interesting.
And there's the big wicket. Full and on the stumps, KP looks to launch it over long-on but fails to connect well. "I was looking to place it and not hit it. If I had hit that, I would have got a boundary," says Kevin Pietersen.
And that's just insane. Full and outside leg, Maxwell goes down on his knees and reverse sweeps it over deep point for a maximum. Tries the same shot on the very next delivery but fails to connect. Hussey isn't going to stay too far behind. Come down the track and hammers it over long-off. Next ball - makes room and smashes a flat one wide of long-off for another boundary. Melbourne have got 29 off the last two overs and now need 57 off 30.
Length ball on the stumps and Hussey looks to deposit over the square-leg fence. Gets a top edge and Jayawardene runs in from fine-leg to take a very good low catch. Hussey falls for 25 off 13. Maxwell hammers the next ball down the ground. Top stuff!
49 off 24 needed now. Rashid strikes. Full toss on leg stump. Maxwell looks to reverse sweeps it but manages to hit it high up towards long-off. Richardson runs in and takes a good catch. Adelaide are clawing their way back in the game.
39 needed off the last 12 balls. Faulkner is in the middle with Handscomb. Can Adelaide hold their nerve and steal a win? This has been a cracking contest so far.
And thats that. Adelaide win by 19 runs. Melbourne were in the chase but lost their way after KP and Maxwell were dismissed. Adelaide grassed a few chances but the bowlers managed to keep Melbourne on the mat as the game progressed. At one stage, they lost four wickets for just 18 runs and that's where the game changed. However, this win was set up by Hodge and Ross. They added 115 runs for the fifth wicket to take Adelaide from 64 for 4 to 187 for 5.Hope you enjoyed out live blog. Until next time then ...