Sam Harper Century Powers Stars Win
Melbourne Stars have already declared themselves as early challengers of the Big Bash League when opener Sam Harper made his maiden BBL century to secure a huge seven-wicket victory over Sydney Sixers at the SCG on Boxing Day.
Harper delivered the signature innings of his career in the BBL, crushing an undefeated 110 of 60 balls with the Stars having 145 to run and 15 balls before doing so. The right-hander scored his hundred with only 50 balls in it, putting the match safely in the hands of Melbourne after a slow beginning to the pursuit.
Harper has been emphatic in his resurgence after two hard BBL seasons were experienced without even registering a half-century. The opening season and points of 55 and 110 to actively launch the season is a big indication of a turnaround and gives the Stars so much-needed stability at the top.
The Sixers were able to experience the power of the Harper domination especially Kane Richardson, who Harper pillaged 41 runs in two overs. Having the shorter SCG boundaries at his expert disposal, Harper drew Richardson again and again into the Bill O’Reilly Stand and chastised the effort to change the bowling angle.
Harper kept assaulting Jack Edwards, clearing the rope on two occasions and hitting up his century with a top-edged boundary over short third man. There were six huge sixes and unremitting boundary pressure in his innings.
Before this Melbourne bowlers prepared the ground. At the age of 41, veteran Peter Siddle looked like a man in a time capsule, with a total of 3 they scored against 23, just short of a hat-trick. Another star of the day was former Sixers player Tom Curran who recorded 3 to 26 and ousted some of the most important batters such as Daniel Hughes and Babar Azam.
The win wins the Stars three in a row to start the season which is their best opening in 12 years and the Sixers are still under pressure as they have won only one game out of four.
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