Melbourne Stars have made it three consecutive wins in the Big Bash League with a dramatic three-wicket victory over local rivals Melbourne Renegades.
The Renegades posted a score of 153-6 before the Stars reached 154-7, with the winning run coming off the final ball.
Matthew Wade anchored the Renegades' innings with an explosive knock of 71 off 49 balls, while Tom Beaton also chipped in with 34. However, Aaron Finch (12), Callum Ferguson (15) and Ben Stokes (14) all struggled to make an impact with the bat.
James Faulkner did most of the damage with the ball for the Stars as he ended with figures of 3-19. Jackson Bird, John Hastings and Glenn Maxwell shared the remaining three wickets between them.
The Stars saw their run chase get off to a poor start when Cameron White (8) and Luke Wright (4) were dismissed inside the opening two overs.
Despite that setback, important scores of 49 and 67 from Kevin Pietersen and Maxwell respectively helped to boost their team at the crease.
A dramatic finish unfolded when Alex Keath (6) and Hastings (0) were both run out in successive balls before Tom Triffitt also looked to have been run out when he was sprinting to the crease in search of the winning run. Following a nervy review, the batsman was given not out and the Stars were awarded the victory.
Stokes claimed two wickets for the Renegades, who also had James Pattinson, Shakib Al Hasan and Fawad Ahmed take one wicket apiece.
Jack Prescott
