The Melbourne Stars booked their ticket to the BBL 2025-26 playoffs and simultaneously ended the Adelaide Strikers’ season with a comprehensive seven-wicket victory at the MCG on Monday. The win was built on a devastating bowling performance, headlined by Tom Curran’s career-best 4/10, which skittled the Strikers for a paltry 83.
From the moment Glenn Maxwell opened the bowling, the Stars were in control. The Strikers’ innings never gained momentum, collapsing under a relentless attack. Tom Curran was the chief destroyer, ripping through the top and middle order with a masterclass in seam and swing bowling. He received excellent support from Mitchell Swepson (3/22) and Marcus Stoinis (2/3), as the Strikers crumbled to 42/6 and were eventually bundled out in the 20th over. Only Liam Scott (18) and tailender Cameron Boyce (20) offered any resistance.
Chasing a modest 84, the Stars faced a brief scare. They lost Sam Harper (9) and Campbell Kellaway (0) early to Hasan Ali and Liam Scott, and Blake Macdonald (11) fell just as a partnership was building. At 45/3, a glimmer of hope remained for the Strikers.
However, the experienced duo of Thomas Rogers (32) and captain Marcus Stoinis (23*) extinguished any thoughts of an upset. They batted with patience and intelligence on a tricky pitch, adding a crucial 38-run stand. Stoinis’s stay was cut short when he injured his thumb and retired hurt, but Tom Curran returned to finish the job he started with the ball, hitting the winning boundary in the 16th over.
The victory is a massive boost for the Stars, who not only confirm their playoff qualification but also keep their hopes of a top-two finish alive. For the Adelaide Strikers, it is a bitterly disappointing end to a season that promised much but delivered little, culminating in a batting performance that fell far short of the demands of a knockout fixture.
Player of the Match Tom Curran summed up the team’s focus: “The table is getting really tight, so we knew tonight was a big game. To qualify, that’s the first step now. Hopefully we can get in that top two because that’s a big advantage.”
The Stars now head to Perth for their final league match, aiming to secure the double-chance, while the Strikers’ campaign is over.
