Hussey stars in BBL opener
A half-century from Commonwealth Bank Bushranger David Hussey was not enough to get the Melbourne Stars over the line against the Sydney Thunder during their inaugural KFC T20 Big Bash League match.
Bringing up his 50 from just 24 deliveries, Hussey again showed why he is regarded as one of the best Twenty20 batsmen in the world, entertaining the parochial MCG home crowd.
The 34 year-old struck three towering sixes in his stay of 52 runs from 27 deliveries to add some respectability to the Stars' total of 7-153.
However, it wasn't enough to register the Stars their first BBL points as the Thunder, led by Test opener David Warner (102 not-out), passed the total four wickets down with six balls to spare.
It was a similar story for the Melbourne Renegades as Commonwealth Bank Bushranger Glenn Maxwell scored a valiant 46 from 31 deliveries as they went down to the Adelaide Strikers.
Coming in at the three, with the Renegades chasing 190 for victory, Maxwell had little time to get settled as the Renegades' required run rate edged upward of 10 per over.
Looking to clear the fence, the 23-year-old all-rounder struck five fours and a six before he held out off the bowling of South African one-day captain Johan Botha.
Fellow Bushranger Andrew McDonald (35 from 31 deliveries) also offered some resistance but the Renegades eventually fell to be all out for 122 in the 18th over.
Both the Stars and Renegades may look to Bushranger squad members, who performed in Victorian Premier Cricket at the weekend.
Putting his hand up for selection was rookie speedster Steven Reid, who took 5-51 for Essendon.
While Renegades leg-spinner Brenton McDonald led Richmond to victory with 3-31 in partnership with Bushrangers and Renegades gloveman Ryan Carters, who claimed four dismissals behind the stumps.
Both Melbourne teams will be hoping for a change in fortunes when the Stars head to the Gabba to play the Brisbane Heat on Tuesday and the Renegades host the Perth Scorchers at Etihad Stadium on Thursday.
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