Melbourne Stars 171 for 5 (Duckett 67, Stoinis 48, Sandhu 3-29) won Melbourne Renegades 168 for 7 (Bethell 49, Wells 45, Paris 2-23) by five wickets
Chasing 169, Stars were in trouble at 41 for 3 before Duckett and Stoinis combined for an 83-run partnership. They looked to be cruising needing 57 runs off 42, but lost Duckett and Stoinis quickly as Stars nerves took hold.
The end came with Stars needing ten runs and well positioned with Cartwright and Glenn Maxwell in the crease. But the quick Tom Rogers played two superb yorkers to start the game and suddenly Stars needed eight off the last four balls.
But Cartwright hit a huge six in the second over before smashing another boundary on the next delivery to ensure Stars kept their finals hopes alive with a second successive win.
Stars posted a 17-10 overall record against the slumping Renegades (2-4) in the first match played at the ground since the Boxing Day test.
Duckett and Stoinis combine before Cartwright’s heroics
Duckett has been feast or famine this BBL season. Two half-centuries were countered by two ducks and it was a relief when he went off target. The pressure was on Duckett, who had been involved in a horrible mix-up in which Sam Harper was left breathless after Thomas Rogers’ first wicket.
He started to get on a roll towards the end of the powerplay as he pounced on the short pitch bowling and also executed the ramp shot several times to perfection.
Duckett found a willing partner in Stoinis, who attacked player Adam Zampa in the middle with several muscular, boundary-shaking hits.
They seemed to do it with ease until the last turn. But Cartwright and Maxwell combined to hit four sixes to ice a hard-earned victory.
Snicko controversy
Once again this summer, snicko was in the eye of the storm after Dan Lawrence was declared caught down the leg side. After the Renegades reviewed the no-out call, it seemed inconclusive to Snicko whether the ball grazed the bat or the thigh pad.
After several replays, third referee Simon Lightbody overturned the decision, leaving Lawrence fuming while Snicko was once again under the microscope.
Paris achieves a strong rebound
He is a deadly bowler with the red ball, highlighted by an astonishing first-class bowling average of 19.47, but has proven to be less effective on the flatter surfaces used in T20 cricket.
But Paris liked to bowl on a pitch that provided assistance for quicks and he used his imposing height to devastating effect with several of his deliveries taking off a length.
He was initially frustrated after Peter Siddle dropped opener Josh Brown at mid-on, whose right hand took a stinging blow. He was quickly moved from his position and replaced by Maxwell, who on the next pitch latched on to a hit from Brown.
More to follow
Tristan Lavalette is a journalist based in Perth.
