A vintage display from 41-year-old Peter Siddle propelled the Melbourne Stars to an impressive eight-wicket victory over reigning BBL champions Hobart Hurricanes, giving their season a perfect start.
Siddle’s 3 for 30 helped restrict the Hurricanes to a modest 158 for 9 after Stars captain Marcus Stoinis chose to bowl first at the MCG. The Stars then chased the target comfortably, finishing 159 for 2 with 24 balls remaining. Stoinis smashed an unbeaten 62 off 31 balls, while Campbell Kellaway contributed 41* from 27 deliveries, with the skipper sealing the win with a six. Stoinis earned Player of the Match honors for his destructive knock and 2 for 18 with the ball.
The Stars, still searching for their first BBL title after the Hurricanes lifted last season’s trophy, could hardly have hoped for a better start. Veteran Glenn Maxwell opened the bowling with his crafty offspin, removing the dangerous Mitch Owen for just four with the fourth ball of the innings. Owen, last season’s final centurion, holed out to Hilton Cartwright, who had spilled a catch off the previous delivery.
That wicket triggered a collapse, as Siddle and fellow pacer Haris Rauf cleaned up the tail, taking 4 for 6 in the final eight balls. Siddle, a 67-Test veteran who retired from international cricket in 2019, returned for another BBL campaign after taking 12 wickets in 2024-25. Despite ending his Victorian career last summer, he stayed match-ready by playing a 10-over league in Canada in October and representing the PM’s XI against England in Canberra last month.
“I just love competing and I don’t want to put out poor performances,” Siddle said. “It’s been a while since I played a proper competitive game, so I was a bit nervous, but it was good to get back into it. My strength and conditioning trainer tailored everything to make sure I was ready to bowl my four overs.”
Ben McDermott was the standout for the Hurricanes, scoring a resilient 69 after arriving early in the innings. Partnering briefly with Tim David, he threatened to take Hobart to a competitive total. But David’s dismissal to Siddle in the powerplay triggered a late collapse.
Maxwell, widely regarded as the best outfielder in the world, showcased his brilliance again by dismissing former teammate Matthew Wade. He leaped over the boundary rope and threw the ball back to himself, completing an extraordinary catch with apparent ease.
Hobart will next face the Melbourne Renegades in Geelong on Sunday, while the Stars travel to Adelaide to take on the Strikers next Tuesday night.
