Highlights | THU vs STA, BBL Cricket Score: Sydney Thunder beat Melbourne Stars by 1 wicket in thrilling contest

Sydney Thunder(THU) Vs Melbourne Stars(STA), BBL12 T20 Match Live Cricket Score and Updates: Follow LIVE action from Big Bash League 2022-23 match between Syndey Thunder and Melbourne Stars

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Big Bash League (BBL) 2022 will get under on Tuesday (December 13) with a clash between last season’s finalist Sydney Thunder and Adam Zampa-led Melbourne Stars in Canberra. Newly crowned T20 World Cup 2022 champion Alex Hales will be part of the Thunder squad once again along with his England teammate David Willey and the prolific South African batter Rilee Rossouw. 

Hales has been sensational since his return to the England playing XI ahead of the T20 World Cup and Rossouw hit back-to-back T20 international centuries against India and Bangladesh. They will be led by Jason Sangha and will also feature Australia opener David Warner in their ranks. The Thunder had a sensational mid-season run, winning six games on the trot to reach the final.

The Stars, on the other hand, suffered a big blow with the loss of their skipper Glenn Maxwell due to a freak injury in which he fractured his foot. Leg-spinner Adam Zampa will take over the captaincy in Maxwell’s absence this season.

The Melbourne Stars have done well in the pre-season drafts with the signing of top New Zealand pacer Trent Boult. However, the Stars will lose the services of Boult mid-way through BBL 2022 with the International League T20 tournament getting underway in UAE in January next year. 

The Stars were one of the sides most affected by COVID-19 last season. They were bowled out for 61 in their first game of BBL 2021 against the Sydney Sixers. They were forced to bring in 26 players in the season – mostly from grade and club cricket – with COVID-19 spread in their camp. They will hope for a change in fortune for the upcoming BBL 2022 season beginning with a win over a powerful Sydney Thunder side on opening night. Check LIVE Scores and Updates from Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Stars BBL 2022 match here.

13 December 2022

17:28 IST

This is it from Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Stars' first match of the Big Bash League this season. For more cricket-related updates stay tuned with Zee News.

17:28 IST

LIVE Thunder vs Stars: Sydney Thunder win by 1 wicket

Such drama to start off the BBL season. Although 123 didn't appear to be a particularly difficult mark, Thunder only just made it by one wicket off the penultimate ball. And they succeeded because of a guest appearance by Sandhu, who delivered a decisive blow in the final over. No batter had an easy time with that pitch; Alex Ross's 28 off 27 balls was the highest individual total of the evening. The seamers, Farooqui, Sams, and Sandhu for the Thunder, and Coulter-Nile and Boult for the Stars, really enjoyed running with their cutters. In the chase, the replacement Brody Couch made a few notable catches. Zampa secured the 100th BBL victory.

LIVE Score MLS 122/8 (20) SYT 123/9 (20) Sydney Thunder won by 1 wkt