Marcus Stoinis played a T20I series in India prior to BBL 2023-24 (AP)
Marcus Stoinis, after leaking 29 runs from just two overs with the ball, went berserk in the Melbourne Stars run-chase later in the game against Adelaide Strikers.
Turning up for his side in match number 20 of the ongoing BBL 2023-24 season at the Adelaide Oval, the hulking Australian all-rounder made his way into the crease following the dismissal of his skipper Glenn Maxwell, at a time when Stars were still 69 runs away from their target off the remaining 36 deliveries.
Stoinis launches Short in BBL 2023-24 thriller
Marcus Stoinis made his run-chase intentions clear by striking scorching boundaries off James Bazley and Matthew Short earlier in his innings. The cricketer clobbered Short for a huge six over deep square leg off the very next delivery, to race to 16* from his first six balls.
Watch: Marcus Stoinis goes big early in BBL 2023-24 thriller
Marcus Stoinis belted Short for another boundary to reap 16 runs off the spinner’s over. The cricketer swung his bat around throughout the remainder of the run-chase and reached his half-century from just 19 balls.
Stoinis crashed Bazley with a 24-run over to conclude the proceedings for Stars with six balls to spare. The T20 veteran finished with a 19-ball 55* to his name, which featured two successive match-winning hits to seal the deal in the penultimate over of the game itself.
Melbourne Stars’ seven-wicket win in the high-scoring thriller marked their third in succession this BBL 2023-24 season, as they jumped to number four on the eight-team points table.
Stoinis will now turn up for his side in their subsequent BBL challenge against Melbourne Renegades on January 2 at the iconic MCG.