Stars shine at last
Pietersen delivers vintage performance under the roof
KEVIN Pietersen delivered a vintage performance with the bat and in the field to lead Melbourne Stars to a 23-run win over Melbourne Renegades and their first victory of the Big Bash season.
Pietersen smashed five sixes on his way to 74 off 46 balls, combining with Peter Handscomb (41) for a 110-run partnership as the Stars posted 4-167 at Etihad Stadium.
He then wound back the clock with a brilliant diving catch at short extra cover to dismiss Tom Cooper as the Stars held their rivals to 9-144 from their 20 overs.
Also proving a gun in the field was Glenn Maxwell, with the ousted Australian representative taking four catches after an important 31 not out from 16 balls with the bat.
The 37-year-old Pietersen is set to retire later this year and has confirmed this will be his final BBL campaign.
But the former England superstar showed he’s still a force to be reckoned with, belting Renegades spinner Brad Hogg into the second tier on consecutive deliveries.
An attempt to again clear mid-on proved to be his undoing when he was caught by Matt Short on the boundary off Sam Wildermuth’s bowling.
It was a welcome return to form for Pietersen but he conceded it may come too late for the bottom-placed Stars, who arrived at Etihad Stadium winless from five games.
“We have a lot of supporters ... it would be pathetic if we gave up so even though we may be out, I have never done it in my career,” Pietersen said while commentating.
“You do your best, you play as well as you can do and you get to where you get to. But you never give up.” With Aaron Finch and Cameron White on Australian ODI duty and Brad Hodge a late withdrawal after suffering a side strain, the Renegades were unable to overcome their loss of experience.
Top scorer Dwayne Bravo (26) looked in threatening touch, smashing James Faulkner for a monster six over deep backward point.
But Evan Gulbis soon lured him into a false shot and the Renegades tail crumbled.
It was also a poor performance in the field by the Renegades with Bravo and Mohammad Nabi both dropping catches.
The Stars’ maiden victory was particularly impressive given the absence of Australian one-day international representatives Adam Zampa and Marcus Stoinis.
Maxwell, who was controversially left out of the ODI squad, helped drive the Stars innings late, and one of his four catches was a brilliant juggling grab to dismiss Tim Ludeman.