Tag: BBL 15

MELBOURNE: Veteran Peter Siddle’s three-wicket haul and Marcus Stoinis’ gutsy knock propelled Melbourne Stars to an eight-wicket victory over Hobart Hurricanes in the fifth match of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 here at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday.

Set 159, Melbourne Stars hit the winning runs on the last ball of the 15th over with eight wickets in hand.

Thomas Rogers and Joe Clarke stitched 46 in 5.3 overs to provide the home side a strong start.

Rogers hit six fours in his 30 from 18 before getting caught on Rishad Hossain’s bowling.

Two overs later, Joe Clarke was also sent back for run-a-ball 20, leaving Stars two down for 58 in 7.3 overs.

This was the only silver lining for Hobart Hurricanes, who then faced a boundary-laced storm from Campbell Kellaway and skipper Marcus Stoinis.

The duo forged a 101* run partnership from 51 balls, which kept Hurricanes bowlers at bay.

Eventually, Stars reached the target without any major hiccup as Kellaway remained unbeaten on 41 from 27 balls with the help of five fours.

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On the contrary, Stoinis’ innings was laced with seven fours and two maximums. The skipper made 62 from 31 deliveries.

For Hobart Hurricanes, Rishad Hossain managed to take two wickets.

Earlier, after being put into bat first, Hobart Hurricanes ‘ power-packed batting lineup was curtailed to 158-9 in their 20 overs.

The visitors were jolted with two early blows as opener Mitchell Owen (8) and Rehan Ahmed (1) were back in the pavilion in the space of two balls.

Consequently, Hurricanes were reduced to 10-2 in 1.1 overs with Ben McDermott and Nikhil Chaudhary at the crease.

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The duo tried to stabilize the innings with a brief partnership of 26 runs, but Marcus Stoinis hit them back with Chaudhary’s wicket in the fifth over, who could only add seven to the total.

For Hurricanes, two of their senior batters Tim David and McDermott were at the crease, which helped their cause with an 83-run partnership, although not in quick time.

The duo brought the scoring to 119 in 15.3 overs with McDermott remaining the core aggressor, while David’s sluggish 31 from 31 was ended by Siddle.

Yet, they reached a respectable total of 158, thanks to Ben McDermott’s 69 from 52 with the help of two sixes and five fours.

For Melbourne Stars, Peter Siddle starred with the ball, scalping three in his four, while Haris Rauf and Marcus Stoinis picked up two each.

READ: Pakistan squad for ICC U19 World Cup announced

SYDNEY: Luke Wood’s all-round show propelled Adelaide Strikers to a three-wicket victory over Sydney Sixers in the fourth fixture of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 here at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

Adelaide Strikers chased down a stiff 160 on the second ball of the final over, losing seven wickets in the process.

Liam Scott remained the top-scorer with 51 from 32, striking three sixers and three fours. Jamie Overton remained the other notable contributor with 30 off 20, while Luke Wood stayed till the end to ensure that his side crossed the finishing line.

Wood remained unbeaten on 18 from 14 with the help of a boundary.

Openers Chris Lynn and Matthew Short were off the blocks quickly, adding 27 in 2.3 overs before the former was caught after scoring five.

Soon after, skipper Short fell with 15 to his name from 11, which left Strikers 34-2 in 3.4 overs.

With the required run rate relatively easy to achieve, Jason Sangha and Liam Scott took their time at the crease to stitch a brief 22-run partnership.

Sangha departed after scoring 12 from 15, while Scott continued on and held the Strikers’ innings together with vital contributions.

He was involved in brief stands with Alex Ross and Jamie Overton, which took the score over the 100-run mark.

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Eventually, Adelaide Strikers reached the target, thanks to Overton and Wood’s calculated knocks in the last five overs.

With 37 required from 30 balls, Overton did the bulk of the scoring until his dismissal in the final over, which brought the equation to five from six balls.

However, Hasan Ali sneaked three on the first ball, which was followed by a double run from Wood, sealing the victory for the Strikers in their opening game.

For Sydney Sixers, Jack Edwards picked up two wickets in his quota of four overs.

Earlier, put into bat first, Sydney Sixers were limited to 159-9 at the end of their 20 overs.

Josh Philippe top-scored with 46 from 28, striking eight fours and a six, which helped the home side reach a respectable total.

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Despite losing Babar Azam early in the second over for nine, Sixers were cruising till the 11th over with 94 on the board.

But it was Lloyd Pope’s double-wicket 12th over that sparked a mini collapse and derailed the Sixers innings.

Jack Edwards was the other notable batter who hit 32 from 21 with the help of three fours and a six.

For Adelaide Strikers, Luke Wood scalped three wickets while Jamie Overton and Lloyd Pope picked up two wickets.

READ: Alex Carey pays tribute to late father after home Ashes century

Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive officer Todd Greenberg has confirmed that Pakistan players will remain available for the full duration of the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) 15.

The BBL 15 has attracted several first-choice Pakistan cricketers, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali.

However, there had been uncertainty over their availability due to Pakistan’s scheduled T20I tour of Sri Lanka in early January.

Speaking to reporters on the morning of the third Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval, Greenberg said Cricket Australia had received clear assurances regarding the availability of Pakistan players throughout the competition.

“We’ve been told that if they’ve been signed by the BBL, they’ll play [the whole BBL],” Greenberg said.

He also confirmed that plans for Australia’s T20I tour of Pakistan ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 are moving forward.

According to Greenberg, CA, along with the Australian Cricketers’ Association, has already sent representatives to Pakistan to conduct a pre-tour security assessment.

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“We’ve just sent a couple of people to Pakistan to do a pre-tour for the T20I games in February,” he said.

“We’re going to have some conversations with the players after the Ashes series and explain to them how that will work with security. But I went there with them in 2022, and it was an amazing experience.”

Todd Greenberg added that the three-match ODI leg of Australia’s tour of Pakistan, which forms part of the Future Tours Programme (FTP), will be shifted to June.

The move will allow the series to be played after the conclusion of both the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The rescheduled window will also align with Australia’s limited-overs tour of Bangladesh, which includes three ODIs and three T20Is in the same month.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s tour of Australia later in the year will mark a historic return of Test cricket to the Top End. Scheduled for August, the series will see Mackay host its first-ever Test match, and the region’s first since 2004.

READ: Australia’s Steve Smith ruled out of third Ashes Test

HOBART: Shadab Khan’s all-round efforts went in vain as Hobart Hurricanes stole a nervy opening win over Sydney Thunder in the third fixture of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 here at the Bellerive Oval on Tuesday.

Set stiff 181, Hobart Hurricanes chased down the target on the penultimate ball of the final over with four wickets in hand.

Mitchell Owen and Nikhil Chaudhary provided a flying start, adding 48 in 4.3 overs. Owen hit six fours and a maximum before getting caught on 32 from 14 balls.

Despite the wicket, the home side continued brisk scoring, courtesy of Nikhil Chaudhary and Ben McDermott’s 61-run partnership. The pair made lightwork of the chase as the scorecard read 109 at the end of 11 overs.

The stand eventually culminated with Chaudhary’s departure, who made 41 from 31 balls. Soon after, McDermott perished to give the Thunder an opening.

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The right-hander made 38 from 24 with the aid of three sixes and a four.

Nonetheless, Sydney Thunder made the chase stiff for the incoming Hurricanes batters, but it was Chris Jordan’s vital contribution with the bat lower down the order that helped them finish the match.

Jordan first added 17 with Matthew Wade (25), which was followed by another unbeaten 13-run partnership with Nathan Ellis.

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Jordan made 16 from 13 while Ellis remained unbeaten with five from eight balls.

For Sydney Thunder, Shadab Khan remained the standout bowler, picking up two wickets in his quota of four overs.

Earlier, after being put into bat first, Sydney Thunder managed to pile up 180-6 on the board in their allotted 20 overs.

Cameron Bancroft top-scored with 61 from 44 deliveries with the aid of four boundaries and a six, while Shadab Khan chipped in with a contribution late down the order.

The highlight of Thunder’s innings was a 59-run partnership between Bancroft and Shadab that propelled their score from 79-4 to 138-5 in 16.5 overs.

Despite Bancroft’s wicket, Shadab remained pivotal in propelling them to a strong total. The right-hander hit two fours and a six on his way to 34 from 24 balls.

For Hobart Hurricanes, Billy Stanlake took three wickets and remained the standout bowler. Chris Jordan also managed to pick two wickets in his four overs.

READ: Kundu’s double ton helps India thump Malaysia in U19 Asia Cup

Brisbane Heat fast bowler Shaheen Afridi aims to take advantage of pace-friendly Australian pitches to limit star batter Babar Azam in the Big Bash League (BBL) 15.

Shaheen talked about his game plan and playing against Pakistan players during ‘The Surge’ Big Bash podcast.

Babar Azam is representing Sydney Sixers in the 15th edition of the BBL.

“We have been playing for the same team for seven or eight years,” he said of Pakistan players.

“It will be more exciting here. I hope the ball helps us more, not like in Pakistan with flat wickets! We will be enjoying it here. It’ll be exciting playing against each other,” Pakistan ODI skipper continued.

The left-arm pacer hailed Babar Azam’s stature as a batter ahead of his outing against Sydney Sixers on January 6.

“I don’t want to say that!,” he laughed when asked how he might try to limit Babar’s flow.

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“Babar is a world-class player, no doubt about that, and he had a lot of runs for Pakistan for many years. “My plan will be simple: Use the Australian wickets,” he explained.

For those unaware, Shaheen started poorly in his maiden BBL outing as he was removed from the bowling attack during the Brisbane Heat’s clash against the Melbourne Renegades.

Afridi’s debut summed up a rough opening week for Pakistan stars in the BBL this season, with the fast bowler struggling for control at the death.

The Pakistan pacer conceded 43 runs in just 2.4 overs, a disappointing return for a player Brisbane Heat had selected as their first overseas pick in the BBL 15 draft.

Brought back into the attack in the 18th over by Heat captain Nathan McSweeney, Shaheen immediately came under pressure as Oliver Peake launched him for a six over deep midwicket.

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Attempting to respond with fuller deliveries, the 25-year-old repeatedly missed his yorker length.

A low full toss first allowed the Renegades to escape with a single, before things unravelled further when Shaheen overstepped the mark with a waist-high full toss that was called a no-ball.

Eventually, due to two waist-high no-balls in the same over, the umpires stepped in and took Shaheen off the attack, bringing an abrupt end to a forgettable outing.

READ: Shaheen Afridi endures nightmare BBL debut as umpires take him off attack

GEELONG: Tim Seifert’s blistering century backed by a clinical bowling effort, which powered Melbourne Renegades to victory over Brisbane Heat in the second fixture of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 here at the GMHBA Stadium on Monday.

Set 213, Brisbane Heat fell short by 14 runs, managing to score 198-8 at the end of 20 overs.

Colin Munro remained the top-scorer with 55 from 32, striking five sixes and three fours, whereas wickets tumbled around him.

Jason Behrendorff removed opener Jack Wildermuth for a duck to provide the Heat a solid start, which was backed by skipper Nathan McSweeney’s wicket in the third over, who could only manage nine.

As a result, Brisbane Heat were reduced to 21-2 in 3.1 overs with Munro and Matt Renshaw at the crease. The duo tried to put the chase back on track with a brief 34-run partnership.

Renshaw made 18 off 12 with the aid of two boundaries and a six before being caught. At this stage, the scorecard read 55-3 in 6.5 overs.

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Meanwhile, Munro continued on and stitched another 45-run stand with Max Bryant, which propelled the score to the 100-run mark at the end of 11.2 overs.

The threatening stand culminated with Bryant’s wicket, who perished for 14 from 16 balls, which was also followed by two wickets in the 12th over.

As a result, Heat slumped from 100-4 to 108-6 in 13 overs. However, Jimmy Peirson and Hugh Weibgen provided their side with a hope with a brisk 78-run partnership of only 35 balls.

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Peirson hit three sixes and four boundaries in his brisk 22-ball half-century, whereas Weibgen remained unbeaten on 38 from 20 deliveries, hitting two sixes and four boundaries.

Eventually, it was not enough with the required rate ballooning as Heat fell short of the target.

For Melbourne Renegades, Will Sutherland stood out with three wickets to his name while Gurinder Sandhu and Jason Behrendorff scalped two apiece.

Earlier, put into bat first, Melbourne Renegades racked up 212-5 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to Tim Seifert’s 102 off 56, peppered with nine fours and six maximums.

Josh Brown was caught for 15 in the third over, followed by Mohammad Rizwan’s (4) dismissal after the powerplay. With Renegades 49-2, Siefert held firm at one end and shared a brief 33-run partnership, which brought the score to 8-3 in 9.3 overs.

Jake Fraser-McGurk made 14 from seven with the aid of a six and a four.

However, the highlight of the Renegades’ innings was the match-defining partnership between Tim Siefert and Oliver Peake, who added 121 from 57 balls on the fourth wicket.

As a result, Renegades’ scoring rate exceeded the 200-run mark, which eventually proved match-winning. Oliver Peake was caught after making 57 from 29, studded with half a dozen boundaries and three sixes.

For Brisbane Heat, Jack Wildermuth remained the stand out bowler, who picked up three wickets in his quota of four overs.

READ: Shaheen Afridi endures nightmare BBL debut as umpires take him off attack

GEELONG: Pakistan’s left-arm pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi suffered a difficult start to his Big Bash League (BBL) journey after being removed from the bowling attack during Brisbane Heat’s clash against Melbourne Renegades here on Monday.

Afridi’s debut summed up a rough opening week for Pakistan stars in the BBL this season, with the fast bowler struggling for control at the death.

Brought back into the attack in the 18th over by Heat captain Nathan McSweeney, Shaheen immediately came under pressure as Oliver Peake launched him for a six over deep midwicket.

Attempting to respond with fuller deliveries, the 25-year-old repeatedly missed his yorker length.

A low full toss first allowed the Renegades to escape with a single, before things unravelled further when Shaheen overstepped the mark with a waist-high full toss that was called a no-ball.

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Tim Seifert capitalised, muscling the delivery wide of long-on and racing back for two to complete a rapid century.

Although Shaheen briefly regained composure by firing in a pinpoint yorker on the free hit, his struggles soon returned.

Another beamer followed and was again ruled a no-ball by the on-field umpires. The delivery evaded both the batter and wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson, allowing the Renegades to steal two more runs as byes.

With two waist-high no-balls in the same over, the umpires stepped in and took Shaheen off the attack, bringing an abrupt end to a forgettable outing.

The Pakistan pacer conceded 43 runs in just 2.4 overs, a disappointing return for a player Brisbane Heat had selected as their first overseas pick in the BBL 15 draft.

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The match also saw Melbourne Renegades’ debutant Mohammad Rizwan struggle to make an impact.

The Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter managed only four runs, adding to the growing list of underwhelming first appearances by Pakistani players in this year’s tournament.

Rizwan and Shaheen’s tough nights followed a similar fate for Babar Azam, who endured a quiet BBL debut on Sunday.

Representing Sydney Sixers against Perth Scorchers in the tournament opener, the Pakistan batting star was dismissed for just two runs off five balls.

READ: Mohammad Rizwan dismissed cheaply on Big Bash debut

GEELONG: Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan endured a forgettable start to his Big Bash League (BBL) journey, managing just four runs on debut for Melbourne Renegades against Brisbane Heat at the GMHBA Stadium on Monday.

Rizwan, the former Pakistan white-ball captain, walked in at number three after opener Josh Brown was dismissed for 15 in the fourth over by Xavier Bartlett.

Tasked with stabilising the innings, Rizwan partnered Tim Seifert at the crease but struggled to settle into the rhythm of the contest.

While Seifert looked fluent, Rizwan found it difficult to rotate the strike and build momentum.

He laboured to four runs from nine deliveries and perished on the tenth ball he faced, attempting to slog Patrick Dooley over the leg side.

The shot lacked timing and elevation, resulting in a straightforward catch for Max Bryant, bringing an early end to his stay at the crease.

Paddy Dooley gets the wicket of Muhammad Rizwan!

Having played one match previously for the Heat in BBL|11, it’s a first wicket in teal for Dools in his comeback game 🩵 #BBL15 pic.twitter.com/6C0YaX2VTc

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 15, 2025

Rizwan’s modest return came just a day after another Pakistan superstar, Babar Azam, also endured a tough initiation into the BBL.

Representing the Sydney Sixers in the tournament opener against the Perth Scorchers on Sunday, Babar managed only two runs from five balls.

Opening the innings, Babar lost his partner, Daniel Hughes, on the second delivery before cautiously getting off the mark later in the over.

The right-hander struggled to impose himself and was eventually dismissed by Brody Couch, failing to clear mid-on, where Laurie Evans completed a comfortable catch.

After Babar’s early exit, the Perth Scorchers went on to secure victory, powered by Cooper Connolly’s aggressive 59 off 31 deliveries in the curtain-raiser of BBL 15.

READ: Pakistan-Bangladesh all-format series likely to be rescheduled: sources

PERTH: Cooper Connolly smashed 59 off 31balls to propel Perth Scorchers to victory over Sydney Sixers in the opening game of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 here at the Perth Stadium on Sunday.

Set 114, Scorchers chased down the target with five balls to spare, losing five wickets in the process, in a match reduced to 11 overs per side due to rain.

The home side chase started on a poor note as they lost their opening wicket on the third ball of the first over. Mitchell Marsh was caught at first slip by Babar Azam for a duck.

After the early wicket, Finn Allen and Connolly added 39 for the second wicket partnership as the scorecard read 39-1 in 3.5 overs.

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Allen was caught after scoring 16 off eight with the help of two maximums.

Sydney Sixers tried to make a comeback with another wicket in the last over of the powerplay. Jack Edwards sent back Aaron Hardie for 13 to give his side an opening, however Connolly kept the Sixers at bay with his gutsy knock.

Eventually, Scorchers crossed the finishing line despite losing Connolly and Lauria Evans in the ninth over. Skipper Ashton Turner remained unbeaten with 16 from nine balls.

For Sydney Sixers, Ben Dwarshuis picked up two wickets.

Earlier, after being put into bat first, Sydney Sixers managed to put 113 for 5 in their allotted 11 overs.

Scorchers inflicted a poor start on Sixers as both of their opening batters were sent back inside the first three overs. Hughes departed for a duck on the third ball of the innings, followed by Babar Azam’s wicket, who only made two.

As a result, Sydney Sixers were reduced to 15-2 in 2.5 overs.

They were put into further dire straits with wickets in the fourth and fifth over, as seasoned batters Moises Henriques and Josh Philippe went back to the pavilion.

Henriques made nine while Philippe scored 28 from 18 with the aid of three fours and a six.

Despite the wickets, Sixers managed to post a respectable total courtesy of Jack Edwards brisk knock. Edwards hit 46 from 21 balls, laced with two sixes and half a dozen boundaries.

For Perth Scorchers, Brody Couch scalped two wickets in his two overs.

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PERTH: Perth Scorchers have won the bat flip toss and decided to bowl first against Sydney Sixers in the opening match of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 here at the Perth Stadium on Sunday.

Due to bad weather, the toss was delayed by half an hour in a match reduced to 11 overs per side.

Playing XIs

Sydney Sixers XI: Babar Azam, Daniel Hughes, Josh Philippe (wk), Moises Henriques (capt), Lachlan Shaw, Jack Edwards, Ben Dwarshuis, Joel Davis, Charlie Stobo, Mitch Perry, Todd Murphy

Perth Scorchers XI: Mitchell Marsh, Finn Allen, Cooper Connolly, Aaron Hardie, Ashton Turner (capt), Laurie Evans, Nick Hobson, Ashton Agar, Joel Paris, Brody Couch, Mahli Beardman

READ: Pakistan bowl out India for 240 in U19 Asia Cup clash