Maxwell, Wright lead Stars home

The match in a tweet: 'Canes crash & burn! Stars combine spin & pace to restrict Hobart to 9-124 – a total that Maxi/Wright mow down easily #BBL05

The hero: It was such a team effort from the Stars that it's hard to nail this one, but John Hastings' bowling performance was much more impressive than the simple figures of 1-23 from four overs. Consistently aggressive, Hastings steamed in and refused to give the Hurricanes an inch. Perhaps frustrated by his axing from the Australia ODI squad, the big Victorian bowled like a man with a point to prove, getting both his short stuff and his yorkers bang on the money.

Watch: KP lauds best death bowling ... ever?

The support cast: Scott Boland was superb in closing out the Hurricanes' innings alongside Hastings. The paceman, like Hastings, couldn't have bowled his yorkers more accurately, cleaning up tailenders Cameron Boyce and Sam Rainbird in the final stages and precipitating a team hat-trick. The spin group of Michael Beer, Adam Zampa - who ended the George Bailey, Jono Wells fightback with their wickets in the space of three balls - and Glenn Maxwell all played critical roles, before Luke Wright and Maxwell (again) finished things off superbly with the bat.

Watch: Boland, Stars' team hat-trick

The stand: With the Stars 2-15 early in their chase, the Hurricanes might have sensed they were an outside show to spring a remarkable result. Inside 10 overs, Wright (51no off 41) and Maxwell (56no off 32) made that notion seem utterly ridiculous. Despite scoring at roughly 10 an over, the pair barely seemed to get out of second gear, Maxwell closing out the match with a maximum straight down the ground to put a fitting exclamation point on an entertaining display.

Watch: Maxwell's massive six at the 'G 

The moment: If the Hurricanes' batting Powerplay against the Renegades two nights back was a disaster, then this effort was simply diabolical as the Stars' tactic to begin the innings with spin paid handsome dividends. Tim Paine was first to go, caught spectacularly by James Faulkner at mid-on from the first ball he faced to give Glenn Maxwell the early wicket. Michael Beer followed suit moments later, the umpire ruling he'd found a leg-side tickle from Kumar Sangakkara, who exited for one. Ben Dunk (11) and Dan Christian (4) were both run-out, the first a classic mix-up leaving Dunk stranded mid-pitch and the latter a superb piece of work from Luke Wright, who scooped up the ball at mid-on and threw down the stumps.

Watch: Wright's sharp run-out

The victim: Rarely has he been described as a victim, but poor old Kevin Pietersen was just that tonight. The brash Englishman came to the crease at 1-15 and opted not to chat to the commentators initially, explaining instead that he wanted to get into his innings. As it happened, that innings lasted all of one ball, the right-hander run out for one in a mix-up with Wright.

Watch: A very English mix-up

The consolation effort: George Bailey is ranked the No.2 batsman in the tournament in the official Big Bash Player Rankings and he was just about a lone act for the Hurricanes tonight. The Australia limited-overs rep dominated a 67-run partnership with Jono Wells, playing a series of crisp, clinical strokes both through the field and over the fence, and bringing up a half-century.

Watch: Bailey makes another BBL fifty

The dropped catches: Bailey is a reliable cricketer so it was a shock to see him spill this quite simple chance at mid-off. Worse still, it was Luke Wright who benefited, and he went on to play a vital role in the Stars' run chase.

Watch: Bailey drops Wright

Meanwhile, this cameraman must've simply lost focus… see what we did there?

Watch: Cameraman spills Wright!

The wash-up: A win to the Stars tonight creates a logjam on the ladder; they've drawn level on six points with the Hurricanes, Scorchers and Thunder – who are all effectively in second spot behind the Strikers but separated by run rate.  

The next stops: The Stars head across the Melbourne CBD to Etihad Stadium for leg two of their derby with the Renegades on Saturday night, while the Hurricanes are at home to the Scorchers as the first match of Sunday's double header. 

Watch: Tim feels pain of Faulkner ripper

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