Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Stars, 2nd Match - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

Series: Big Bash League, 2015-16 Venue: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Date & Time: Dec 18, 07:10 PM LOCAL

It's day two of the Big Bash and it pits the Adelaide Strikers up against the Melbourne Stars. After the 'Thunder' storm yesterday, will the Stars light up the stage? Or will the Strikers prove a point in front of their raucous fans at the majestic Adelaide Oval? After a successful campaign for the Dolphins in the Ram Slam, Kevin Pietersen returns for the Stars - so does Luke Wright. The Strikers have their own English signing, in Adil Rashid - not to forget the classy Mahela Jayawardene. It should be another night of entertainment.

It isn't just the overseas stars who will hog all the limelight. The likes of Glenn Maxwell, David Hussey, James Faulkner and Brad Hodge will bring out the best out of the Australian spirit. It should be a rocking night at Adelaide Oval. Toss and team updates in a while..

David Hussey has won the toss and the Stars will bowl first at the Adelaide Oval. Safe choice in a T20 if you are not entirely convinced what the pitch would do.

Teams from:

Adelaide Strikers (Playing XI): Craig Simmons, Tim Ludeman(w), Mahela Jayawardene, Travis Head(c), Brad Hodge, Alex Ross, Michael Neser, Adil Rashid, Kane Richardson, Ben Laughlin, Gary Putland

Melbourne Stars (Playing XI): Marcus Stoinis, Luke Wright, David Hussey(c), Glenn Maxwell, Kevin Pietersen, Peter Handscomb(w), James Faulkner, Scott Boland, John Hastings, Adam Zampa, Michael Beer

@gilly381 @bowlologist

5 1

Stoinis falls just after getting to his half-century. Slower ball on the leg stump, he flicks it straight to Richardson at deep mid wicket. Melbourne now need 98 off 53 balls. Glenn Maxwell walks in to bat. This will be interesting.

And there's the big wicket. Full and on the stumps, KP looks to launch it over long-on but fails to connect well. "I was looking to place it and not hit it. If I had hit that, I would have got a boundary," says Kevin Pietersen.

And that's just insane. Full and outside leg, Maxwell goes down on his knees and reverse sweeps it over deep point for a maximum. Tries the same shot on the very next delivery but fails to connect. Hussey isn't going to stay too far behind. Come down the track and hammers it over long-off. Next ball - makes room and smashes a flat one wide of long-off for another boundary. Melbourne have got 29 off the last two overs and now need 57 off 30.

Length ball on the stumps and Hussey looks to deposit over the square-leg fence. Gets a top edge and Jayawardene runs in from fine-leg to take a very good low catch. Hussey falls for 25 off 13. Maxwell hammers the next ball down the ground. Top stuff!

49 off 24 needed now. Rashid strikes. Full toss on leg stump. Maxwell looks to reverse sweeps it but manages to hit it high up towards long-off. Richardson runs in and takes a good catch. Adelaide are clawing their way back in the game.

39 needed off the last 12 balls. Faulkner is in the middle with Handscomb. Can Adelaide hold their nerve and steal a win? This has been a cracking contest so far.

And thats that. Adelaide win by 19 runs. Melbourne were in the chase but lost their way after KP and Maxwell were dismissed. Adelaide grassed a few chances but the bowlers managed to keep Melbourne on the mat as the game progressed. At one stage, they lost four wickets for just 18 runs and that's where the game changed. However, this win was set up by Hodge and Ross. They added 115 runs for the fifth wicket to take Adelaide from 64 for 4 to 187 for 5.Hope you enjoyed out live blog. Until next time then ...