STA vs HUR Ball by Ball Commentary

OUT! IN THE AIR AND MAXWELL TAKES IT! MELBOURNE STARS ARE INTO THE PLAYOFFS! Mark Steketee bashes on the hard length, around off and middle, Nathan Ellis backs away to create some room for himself and pulls it aerially to clear the ropes. Doesn't quite time it well and the ball travels over the fielder at the ropes. Glenn Maxwell though, times his leap in time and takes a sharp catch over his head. He loses his balance after pouching the ball but redeems himself well just before the ropes. So, 5 wins on the bounce after 5 straight defeats for the Melbourne Stars. Talk about a comeback!

FOUR! Carved away! Too full and outside off, Nathan Ellis shovels it out, opens the bat face and guides it between backward point and short third for another boundary. Moves into the 40s, does Ellis.

At the stumps, on a fuller length, this is smashed down to long on. Ellis decides to keep the strike with him.

Takes the single in the last ball to retain the strike! Length, on the stumps, drilled down to long on for a single.

Length ball, on middle, Ellis pulls it over mid on. It lands on the bounce ahead of Maxwell at long on.

A bouncer. Ellis looks to upper cut it over the keeper but misses.

FOUR! Shot! Paris bowls a length-delivery, around middle and leg, Ellis comes down the track and gives himself some room to guide it between the gap of short third man and backward point for a boundary.

Length and around off, Bean guides it to the right of backward point for a single.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND CAUGHT! This is a fine catch from Mark Steketee! Decent stint with the ball and now helps his team get a wicket off a stunning catch! Joel Paris hurls it on a fullish length, on the stumps, Cameron Gannon tries to go bit over the leg side, but gets no distance whatsoever as it spoons in the air off the toe-end of the bat. The ball hangs in the air for a long, long time over the square leg region. At the same time, a flock of seagulls fly above the same region. Mark Steketee though shows excellent commitment as he locks his eyes on the ball, and runs forward from 45. Puts in a full-stretched dive to take a screamer of a catch.

FOUR! Now that is smartly played by the skipper! He moves into the 30s! Hard length, on the bodyline, touch on the leg stump line, Nathan Ellis gets inside the line and uses the pace of the ball. Pulls it over short fine for a boundary. 12 from this over!

Big swing and a miss! Full and off, Nathan Ellis takes the front foot away and tries to pick it over the leg side. Misses by all sorts.

A deceptive bumper with pace on, on a length, around off, Nathan Ellis tries to ramp it up but the ball climbs above his angled bat and beats him.

SIX! CLUBBED AWAY! That was six from the moment it left the bat! Back of length, a slower one from Steketee, over top of middle, Nathan Ellis leans back and pulls it behind long on for a huge six.

Full and on the stumps, dragged down to long on for a single.

Mark Steketee is into the attack! He bowls a good length ball, on middle, Nathan Ellis backs away and hits it off the splice of the bat to widish cover for a single.

Good length, on the stumps, pulled away to the deep mid-wicket region for a single.

FOUR! Some tennis, aye! Back of a length, on off, Nathan Ellis shuffles outside leg and reads the back-of-the-hand-slower ball from Siddle nicely. Waits for it, stands tall and plays the tennis fore-hand straight down the ground for a boundary.

Short of a good length, Gannon stands tall and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Back of a length, on off, Ellis backs away and smashes it to deep point for a single.

SIX! That has gone just over the ropes! A slower ball, on middle and leg, full in length, Nathan Ellis picks it up and swings through the line. The ball sails over deep mid-wicket and goes just behind the ropes.

Siddle is back on! Short and on off, pulled down to long on for a single.

SIX! STRAIGHT AS AN ARROW! Tom serves it right up in the arc, a friendly half-volley, there to be hit, Nathan Ellis gets his front foot out of the way to give himself some room. Gets his bat under the ball, connects the middle and parks it behind the sightscreen for a six.

WIDE! An over-the-head-bumper, on off, Nathan Ellis swings for a pull shot and misses. Wide given by the leg umpire.

Slower one, fairly outside off on a shortish length, Nathan Ellis flat-bats it to mid off on the bounce.

Shortens the length, on top of off, Cameron Gannon pulls it to long on for one.

Straight and full, a slower one, at 113.5 kph, Gannon blocks it off toward the off side.

Fuller delivery around off, Ellis drives it off the inner half to long on for a single.

PEARLER! A fuller-length delivery, lands on the seam and jags back in a long, long way from outside off, Nathan Ellis is flummoxed by it and gets beaten as the ball teases his bat's edge and the off-pole on the way to the keeper.

Fuller on the pads, Nathan Ellis drills this down to long on for one.

Floated on off, Nathan Ellis defends this off his front foot.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! That's the last hope of Hobart Hurricanes gone as well. Tossed up around off, Tim David looks to take on Glenn Maxwell at long on but doesn't get enough power behind this. The ball travels off the bottom of his bat and it lobs straight at long on for a simple take.

Much slower around off, Tim David smashes this as hard as he could but finds Stoinis at extra cover.

FOUR! Short and wide outside off, Tim David cuts this behind point and the ball has raced away to the fence for four.

Floated on leg, Cameron Gannon pushes this towards off for one.

On a length around middle and leg, Tim David slogs this towards deep mid-wicket for two more.

Bumper around middle and leg, Tim David fends this towards leg and runs two.

Good length on off, Cameron Gannon punches this towards off for a single.

OUT! TIMBER! CLEANED HIM UP! Off-cutter, around middle and off, Chris Jordan gets a bit across and looks to flick this off his back foot, but the ball skids onto him quickly, staying a bit low and nipping back in a touch. It beats him on the inside edge. The ball clips the top of the middle stump on its way to Harper behind the stumps. Chris Jordan departs and Hobart Hurricanes lose their 7th wicket. The writing seems to be pretty much on the wall now as Melbourne Stars are just three good deliveries away from advancing to the knockouts.

On a length wide of off, Tim David smashes this towards wide long off for one.

Full and wide outside off, Tim David slaps this towards deep cover for two.

Good length around the pads, Chris Jordan aims to his this behind the stumps but misses out with the bat and the ball clips his pads onto the keeper.

Short-pitched, around off, no pace on offer. Tim David smashes this into the surface and toward mid on for one.

Good length on leg, Tim David punches this toward cover for no run.

FOUR! That's hit cleanly over cover for four. Full and wide outside off, Tim David clears his front leg and lofts this over cover and this has raced away to the fence for four.

Short-pitched, on off, Tim David falt bats this behind mid off and runs two.

Good length on the pads, Chris Jordan gets an inside edge onto the pads and they run one.

Full and wide outside off, Tim David moves to his leg and looks to hit this around off. Peter Siddle was clever enough to dart one full and wide leaving David with no option to get any part of his bat behind this. A dot to end the over.

FOUR! Smashed away for four. Full and wide outside off, Tim David moves to his off and opens up the off side. Slices this over point for a boundary.

Good length on middle and leg, Chris Jordan slaps this towards deep mid-wicket for one.

Back of a length around middle and leg, Tim David pulls this flat and towards deep square for a single.

Good length on middle and off, Tim David slaps this towards deep square and runs two. For a moment it felt like Thomas Rogers would over run it as he lost his footing but he managed this well.

Back of a length on off, Chris Jordan flat bats this through mid-wicket for one.

Tossed up wide outside off, Tim David smashes this through point and gets two to end the over.

Full and on off, Tim David drives this towards cover for no run.

LEG BYE! Floated down the leg, Chris Jordan looks to flick this around the pads, but misses. The ball thumps into the pads and rolls toward leg for one.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! A soft, soft dismissal and Usama strikes with his first wicket. This is tossed up around the middle and leg stump line, Nikhil Chaudhary looks to flick this around leg but he closes the bat face early, the ball lobs off the outside edge and it goes flat and parallel back to the bowler. This dips on Usama Mir but he dives in front and takes it well. Chaudhary departs for a brisk 27 (16).  Hobart Hurricanes are 100/6 after 10.3 overs.

FOUR! Way too full on the pads, Nikhil Chaudhary paddles this wide to the right of short fine leg and the ball has raced away to the fence for four. Nikhil Chaudhary is stepping up on the paddle. This brings up the 100 for the Hurricanes.

FOUR! Smashed away for four. Tossed up wide outside off, Tim David gets low on his knee and smashes this through extra cover for four.

Length, on the pads, David hangs back and flicks it to mid-wicket.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! Wade departs now. Half of the Hobart Hurricanes' side is in the sheds with 92 on the board. This is fuller in length now, at a gentle pace, coming at the body. Matthew Wade flicks and plays it aerially once again, in the same area, but cannot quite access the shot properly as he plays it off the toe-end. Hence, does not generate the requisite power. It sails only as far as the deep square leg region. Cartwright is in the action again in the deep as he moves a few yards forward and takes a fine catch! Matthew Wade departs on 21 (19).

That's a fantastic effort from Hilton Cartwright! Short of a good length, on the bodyline, Matthew Wade pulls it flatly towards deep backward square leg. Gets no proper timing on that one and the ball just dips to the left and low of the fielder. Hilton Cartwright though, tries to scoop the ball, and stops it on the bounce. Two taken.

Hard length, on off, skids and comes through very quickly, Matthew Wade loses the grip of his bottom hand as he tries to pull. Gets an inside edge, on the body and rolls near the short third region.

Fractional full on off, guided away to the widish backward point region for one more.

Hard length, on off, Matthew Wade hops and taps it away to deep backward point for one.

Length, on the body, tucked away to the vacant mid-wicket region for a single. Maxwell scoots to the ball and prevents any other run. This stand now grows to 34 (22). And interestingly, the Hurricanes are slightly ahead of the Stars at this stage. But, they have lost too many wickets.

Pitched fuller and right in front of the stumps, Matthew Wade reverse sweeps it past backward point. Hilton Cartwright comes sprinting to his right from deep cover and intercepts the ball with the slide to save two for his side.

This one drifts and turns back into the middle from off, Nikhil Chaudhary half-squats at it and drags it along the ground to deep square leg for one.

Around the stumps now. Floated and pushed through fuller, on middle, Matthew Wade leans on and places the ball between short cover and point for a quick single.

Switches to over the stumps, lands fuller and on the stumps, Nikhil Chaudhary clips it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Around the stumps, length ball, on off, Wade hangs back and punches it to cover-point for a quick solo.

Aiming on the pads and Wade tickles it to fine leg for a run.

In the air...falls safe! Was that deliberately played by Wade? Umm, can say he controlled the shot well. Short in length, on off, Matthew Wade plays the pull and the ball lands in the vacant long on region for two more.

A sort of a leg-cutter, full and on middle, Matthew Wade flicks it to widish long on and rushes back for the second run.

Back of a length, across off, Nikhil Chaudhary cuts it square to deep backward point for a single.

Short on the stumps, Chaudhary pulls it wide of Maxwell at long on for a couple of runs again.

Paris returns to the attack, fires it full and on middle, Matthew Wade drives it along the ground to long on for one.

On a length and in the line of the stumps, Wade eases it in front of backward point for a single.

Usama sees Wade gearing up for a switch hit, and fires it on the fuller length, outside off, Matthew Wade misses.

Quick and flat, on off, Wade drills it hard to cover.

Drags the length on middle, this is nudged in the mid-wicket region for a single.

FOUR! A real drag-down from Usama, on a length, at off, Nikhil Chaudhary stands tall and pulls it wide of the chasing Maxwell at long on to his right. Gets a boundary.

Floated full and on middle and leg, Wade turns it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

EDGED AND FOUR! Just over the cordons! Back of a length, around off, shaping away, Nikhil Chaudhary throws his bat at it to smash it to the off side. Goes with hard hands, but finds the outside edge and the ball flies over the first slip for a boundary.

Much full and on middle, drilled to wide of mid on for a single.

FOUR! Beautiful stroke! Outside off, on a fuller length, Matthew Wade smashes it past mid off for a boundary. Was at a catching height near mid off but still a bit far from the reach.

Good length and angling on the pads, Wade misses the flick. The ball rolls behind to backward square leg and the batters pick up up a couple of leg byes

OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! Maxwell is not dropping these dollies! It is getting from bad to worse for the 'Canes as they lose their well-settled batter Mitchell Owen now! Curran bashes the hard length, over top of middle as the ball nips back into the batter off the deck. Mitchell Owen is in his crease and tries to drag the pull stroke behind long on. But gets no proper timing on that one and it goes off the inner half of the blade. The ball travels only as far as Glenn Maxwell is stationed at long on. He moves a few yards ahead and takes it around his waist area.

Tom Curran is introduced into the attack now. Bowls a snorter to start his spell! Shapes away from off, on a length, Mitchell Owen is flummoxed by the nip and bounce, and gets beaten past the outside edge.

Short of a length around off, Mitchell Owen uses the depth of the crease, and hits this over the bowler and takes two more.

Tossed up on off, Mitchell Owen finds the gap again for two.

Fuller on the pads, Nikhil Chaudhary flicks this towards mid-wicket and the batters take two. This was never two for the taking but a slip from Glenn Maxwell as he runs in to field this lets the batters take the third one.

Quicker and flatter outside off, Nikhil Chaudhary looks for the square cut but misses.

Full and wide outside off, Nikhil Chaudhary pushes this towards extra cover for no run.

Tossed up around middle and leg, Mitchell Owen flicks this towards leg for one.

Good length outside off, Nikhil Chaudhary leaves it all alone.

LEG BYE! Good length around the pads, Mitchell Owen swings and misses. The ball though deflects off his thigh pad and rolls toward leg for one.

Short-pitched, around off, Mitchell Owen leaves this one.

Good length on off, Nikhil Chaudhary drives this towards long off for a single. to begin his inning.

OUT! PLUMB IN FRONT! Good length around middle and off, Ben McDermott looks to punch this down the ground but gets beaten on the inside as the ball nips back in sharply on the batter. It then goes on and beats the inside edge and thumps into the front pad. A loud appeal for LBW and the umpire raises his finger. Owen appears to signal that this might have jagged back in a lot and Ben McDermott has sent this upstairs. The Ball Tracker shows all red and Ben has to walk back. Ben McDermott departs on 2 (3) and the Hurricanes further fall down to 45/3, needing 175 more runs to win.

On a length around off, Ben McDermott guides this towards third man fence and the batters run two.

SIX! End the over on a high with a biggie. Good length around middle and leg, Mitchell Owen clears his front leg and slogs this towards the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie. Mitchell Owen continues to swing and score.

FOUR! OWEN GETS SOME STROKE OF LUCK GOING HIS WAY! On a length, following the batter down the leg, Mitchell Owen swings, gets an inside edge and the ball floats across the surface and crashes into the fence towards fine leg.

WIDE! Short-pitched, around leg, Mitchell Owen sways away from it. Wided.

FOUR! Owen is finding the gaps for fun. On a length around off, Mitchell Owen drives this through cover and the ball has raced away to the fence for four.

On a length, closer to the pads, Mitchell Owen flicks this towards the right of deep square for two.

FOUR! Up and over the fielders behind the stumps on off for four. On a length around off, Mitchell Owen moves away from the stumps and slices this behind backward point for four.

Back of a length on off, Mitchell Owen defends this off his back foot.

Good length on middle and off, Ben McDermott tucks this towards square leg for no run.

OUT! DOUBLE DELIGHT! A STUNNING CATCH! And it is Cartwright this time around! Short and wide outside off, Charlie Wakim gets width to play with, cuts and cuts hard. Unfortunately, he mistimes it as he tries to play it too hard. The ball flies flat and straight in those hands of Hilton Cartwright at cover point. Not the best of balls by Steketee by any means, but he won't mind at all. Hobart Hurricanes are reduced to 22/2 after 1.5 overs.

On a length wide outside off, Charlie Wakim slashes at it but misses.

OUT! A STUNNER FROM THE STARS SKIPPER! Good length around off, Caleb Jewell looks to flick this over mid-wicket but gets it off the toe end and the ball balloons towards the widish long on region. Marcus Stoinis scoots and covers a lot fo ground to his left. He runs back and sideways before putting in a diving effort to grab this with his trailing left hand. Caleb Jewell departs on a run-a-ball 5 and the 'Canes are 22/1 after 1.3 overs.

WIDE! On a length way too wide outside off, Caleb Jewell looks to play this across the line but misses. WIded.

Good length on off, Caleb Jewell slaps this to mid on for no run.

FOUR! Pure bit of timing behind this and the ball just crashes into the fence for four. Pitched-up around off, Caleb Jewell gets on top of it and lofts this over cover for four. The ball did just pluck into the outfield but had enough to touch the boundary rope.

Good length on off, Mitchell Owen cuts this towards backward point for no run.

WIDE! Bumper, angling across the batter. Mitchell Owen keeps his guard down. Wided.

SIX! Another biggie from the bat of Owen. Good length around middle and leg, Mitchell Owen clears his front leg and slogs this up and over Glenn Maxwell at long on for a huge six.

Back of a length around middle and leg, Mitchell Owen slaps this towards deep mid-wicket for two.

SIX! DISMISSED! On a length around middle and leg, Mitchell Owen settles behind this and slogs this all the way into the crowd towards deep mid-wicket region. A biggie to open his account.

WIDE! On a length down the leg, Mitchell Owen misses the flick and the keeper collects this. Wided.

Good length on off, Caleb Jewell rocks back and cuts this through backward point for a single to get the chase underway.

Swing straightaway. On a length, around off, Caleb Jewell walks across to get some bat behind this but the ball shapes away and beats the outside edge of Caleb Jewell.