Maxwell fifty sets up Melbourne Stars’ victory

Melbourne Stars secure a 16-run victory over Sydney Sixers

Glenn Maxwell's quickfire 58 off 32 balls, accompanied by Beau Webster's 48, guided Melbourne Stars to a total of 156/5. Maxwell's innings included five fours and three sixes, helping Stars recover from early wickets and capitalize on surge overs. The Stars bowlers then put up a disciplined performance, restricting Sydney Sixers to 140/9.

How the match unfolded:

• Ben Duckett started with a six and a four, but wickets fell regularly, leaving Stars at 64/4 at the halfway stage.
• Maxwell's arrival changed the tide, as he struck a six off Ben Dwarshuis and increased the frequency of boundaries.
• A significant 19-run over came in the 13th, followed by 14 off Dwarshuis in the next, with Maxwell hitting a six and a four.
• Maxwell's 26-ball fifty helped Stars reach 147/4, but Sixers managed to keep them to 7 plus a leg-bye in the final over.
• Sixers were kept on a tight leash in the chase, with only 27 coming in the first four overs.
• James Vince's 53 off 42 balls kept Sixers in the hunt, but wickets fell regularly, leaving them at 112/6.
• Hayden Kerr's 21 off 15 balls tried to keep the fight going, but the target proved too steep in the last two overs.

Key performers:

• Glenn Maxwell (58 off 32 balls; 3 fours, 3 sixes)
• Beau Webster (48)
• Mark Steketee (3-14)
• Usama Mir (2-19)
• Sean Abbott (3-29)

Brief scores: Melbourne Stars 156/5 in 20 overs beat Sydney Sixers 140/9 in 20 overs by 16 runs.