Haris Rauf‘s three-for and Joe Clarke‘s fiery innings powered Melbourne Stars to a commanding win over Sydney Thunder. In the 14th match of the Big Bash League 2025-26 at Manuka Oval in Canberra on Sunday, table-toppers Melbourne Stars crushed Sydney Thunder by nine wickets with 36 balls to spare, chasing down 129 in just 14 overs.
Haris Rauf dismantles Sydney Thunder with brilliant bowling
Sydney Thunder’s batting collapsed on a good Canberra surface as they were bundled out for just 128 in their full quota of 20 overs after Melbourne Stars skipper Marcus Stoinis won the toss and chose to bowl first. Despite the pitch offering plenty for stroke-making, Thunder failed to build momentum after a promising start.
Openers Sam Konstas and Matthew Gilkes began positively and took the score to 33 inside the powerplay. Gilkes looked particularly aggressive, striking a boundary and two sixes, but the early spark was snuffed out when Rauf used his slower ball cleverly to have him chipped to mid-off. Konstas soon followed, bowled by Mitchell Swepson, triggering a steady slide for the Thunder.
The pressure mounted as David Warner couldn’t convert his start and was caught in the deep off Stoinis, while Cameron Bancroft’s scratchy stay ended lbw to Swepson after an unsuccessful review. At 63 for four, Thunder were in trouble and desperately needed a partnership.
Sam Billings and Shadab Khan attempted a recovery, adding some stability and taking the total close to 90. However, Rauf returned during the power surge and turned the game decisively in the Stars’ favour, removing Billings and later Chris Green with well-disguised variations. With the middle order undone, the lower order offered little resistance. Tom Curran and Peter Siddle cleaned up the tail as Thunder lost their final five wickets cheaply, slipping from a position of hope to another batting disappointment. Rauf’s incisive spell stood out as the defining factor in the collapse.
Joe Clarke’s blistering knock seals a commanding win for Melbourne Stars
Joe Clarke produced a blistering opening act to set up a comfortable victory for the Melbourne Stars, showcasing his attacking intent from the very start of the chase. Clarke raced to a scintillating 60 from just 37 deliveries, peppering the boundary with eight crisp fours and a towering six. Alongside Sam Harper, he ensured the Stars flew out of the blocks, bringing up their fifty in a mere 3.6 overs during the power play. Clarke reached his half-century in only 29 balls, confidently dispatching Ryan Hadley with elegant flicks and forceful cuts through point, as the opening pair stitched together a commanding 86-run stand. The breakthrough eventually came when Chris Green dismissed Clarke at 86 for 1 in the 9.4th over, but by then the damage had been done.
With the platform firmly established, Harper and Glenn Maxwell calmly guided the Stars home without any hiccups. Harper remained unbeaten on 29 from 27 balls, while Maxwell added the finishing touches with an aggressive 39 not out off 20 deliveries, striking five boundaries and clearing the ropes twice. Maxwell took a particular liking to Shadab and Tanveer Sangha, ensuring the chase never drifted off course. The Stars reached 100 in just 11.1 overs and were never under pressure, as Thunder bowlers Daniel Sams and Ryan Hadley struggled to contain the flow of runs. This emphatic win keeps Melbourne Stars unbeaten with four victories from four matches, sitting comfortably at the top of the BBL|15 standings, while Sydney Thunder’s campaign continues to lose momentum.
Four wins. Zero losses.
These @StarsBBL are shining in #BBL15 🌟 pic.twitter.com/axshOfR4Lh
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 28, 2025
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