WATCH: Glenn Maxwell falls for 28 after playing silly shot against Tanveer Sangha during BBL 2024 match

Melbourne Stars are knocked out of Big Bash League (BBL) tournament after their 21-run loss to Sydney Thunder in the Knockout game. Star player Glenn Maxwell failed to come good in the most important game for his side as he was out after scoring 28 runs. That wicket changed the course of the game as the Thunders bowlers kept a tight leash on Star’ batters. 

Tanveer Sangha was bowling the second ball of the 12th over when the ball stuck onto the surface. Maxwell tried to whip the ball to the leg side but only managed to top edge the ball. Sangha settled under the high ball and took an easy return catch to dismiss Stars’ most dangerous batter. Maxwell had scored three successive fifties before this to guide his team to the playoffs. 

Glenn Maxwell is OUT.

Tanveer Sangha does the damage in a HUGE wicket for the Thunder. #BBL14pic.twitter.com/l9dA7hUV4g

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 22, 2025

The 36-year-old was out for 28 after facing 21 balls with the help of three boundaries and a six. At that stage, Melbourne were placed at 68/5 while chasing 136 runs to win. Sydney Thunder will now play the challenger match on Friday against Sydney Sixers who lost the first qualifier to Hobart Hurricanes. The winner of the Challenger match will the BBL 2024 final against Nathan Ellis’ side. 

Nathan McAndrew’s fifer puts Stars out of BBL2024

Defending 136 runs, veteran pacer Nathan McAndrew struck for the David Warner led Thunders side. The 31-year-old first got rid of Thomas Rogers for one run then followed it up with the wicket of Sam Harper who was bowled for six runs. Tom Andrews then dismissed veteran batter Peter Handscomb for 11 runs. 

Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell then added 38 runs for the fourth wicket before Stoinis was out for 15 runs. Chris Green got the wicket of the veteran Stars player caught by George Garton. Hilton Cartwright tried his best to bring his team back into the game as Mark Steketee swung his bat around. Nathan McAndrew ended the fight as he finished with figures of 5/16 from his four overs. 

The pacer was named the Man of the Match for his efforts. During the post-match interaction, Sydney Thunders pacer McAndrew said “The early wickets were pretty crucial, we knew it was going to be hard to bat in the middle overs. Knew they were going to come hard at us in the powerplay. When we got Maxwell, well it didn’t kill the game completely but went a long way in our favour”