Harper’s blistering century and three-fors from Curran, Siddle extend Stars’ unbeaten start

Josh Harper produced the innings of his Big Bash League career with a scintillating unbeaten 110 off 60 balls as the Melbourne Stars continued their perfect start to the season, defeating the Sydney Sixers by chasing down 145 with 15 balls to spare at the SCG on Boxing Day.

On a night that also saw 41-year-old Peter Siddle narrowly miss out on his first BBL hat-trick, the Stars made it three wins from three matches for the first time since their undefeated regular season in 2013–14. The Sixers, by contrast, endured another difficult outing and now sit with just one win from four games.

Harper was the dominant figure in the chase, reaching his century from just 50 balls and punishing anything loose from the Sixers’ attack. He struck six sixes in total, 41 of his runs coming from just two overs bowled by Kane Richardson. Harper twice exploited the shorter boundary by pulling Richardson into the Bill O’Reilly Stand, before later lofting him over cover for another maximum after the bowler switched ends.

He continued his assault against Jack Edwards, eventually bringing up his hundred in dramatic fashion by top-edging a delivery over short third man after clearing the ropes twice earlier in the over. The innings marked a remarkable turnaround in form for Harper, who had not scored a BBL half-century in the previous two seasons but has now opened the campaign with scores of 55 and an unbeaten 110.

Earlier in the evening, the Stars’ bowlers laid the foundation for victory. Siddle continued his impressive start to the season with figures of 3 for 23 from four overs, following his 3 for 30 in the Stars’ opening match against Hobart. He removed Jordan Silk from the final ball of the 16th over and then struck again with the first delivery of the 19th, dismissing Joel Davies at long off.

Siddle came within touching distance of a hat-trick when Sean Abbott edged his first ball to point, only for Jonathan Merlo to spill a difficult chance.

Tom Curran also played a key role against his former club, returning 3 for 26. The England all-rounder, who spent six seasons with the Sixers before departing after the 2023–24 campaign, claimed the crucial wicket of Daniel Hughes, who top-scored with 60 off 42 balls. Hughes was dismissed with the Sixers 90 for 3 in the 13th over, triggering a late collapse.

Curran also removed Babar Azam for 2 and the dangerous Edwards for 11 as the Sixers were bowled out off the final ball of their innings.

With Harper in devastating touch and their bowling unit delivering consistently, the Stars look well placed as the early pace-setters in this year’s BBL.