Maddinson fires as Sixers end Stars' Big Bash finals hopes

The supremely talented left-hander cracked half a dozen sixes in a sublime knock as the visitors made short work of Melbourne's 7-128 at the MCG in front of 26,134 fans, outlining just what might have been this summer had he and his magenta-clad teammates lived up to their potential.

Prior to this knock, Maddinson had been dismissed five times this season between 24 and 31, often looking his dangerous self before finding a way to get out.

And so it was again on Tuesday. After rocketing his way to 30, all-rounder Glenn Maxwell drew Maddinson forward with a well-flighted delivery only for wicketkeeper Peter Handscomb to grass the chance.

Maddinson returned to his crease in the nick of time, and that marked the end of any chance the Stars had to keep alive their flickering finals hopes.

"He's the man of the match for me," teammate Nathan Lyon said after he was awarded that accolade for his 3-18 earlier in the night.

"Those small targets can actually be quite hard to chase down in shorter format cricket. The way he went out there and backed his game and played his natural free game and hit those big shots really broke the back of the Stars."

Opener Daniel Hughes provided the support for Maddinson, helping himself to 49 from 46 balls as the pair put on 92 for the second wicket.

Import Joe Denly had started brightly opening the batting, but he departed from 12 off James Faulkner's bowling thanks to a brilliant catch from Maxwell running back with the flight of the ball at short third man.

The Sixers enjoyed this one, a rare foray of enjoyment in a summer of discontent that produced a zero-and-six start before Saturday's win over the Sydney Thunder, and Tuesday's emphatic triumph.

Wedged in between the two wins was Sixer Jason Roy's record-breaking 180 for the England one-day team in their thumping of Australia. He played in all six of Sydney's losses before reporting for international duty, managing just 62 runs over that stretch.

Throw in Maddinson's inconsistencies, Moises Henriques missing a large stretch for personal reasons and Hughes' quad injury earlier in the season and the Big Bash table could have looked a whole lot different.

They've now ruined the Stars' finals chances, and have a big chance on Thursday to deliver a telling blow to those of the Brisbane Heat's.

Maddinson took plenty of the accolades on Tuesday, but it was the Sixers' best bowling performance of the summer, spearheaded by Test spinner Lyon, that set up the win.

Sydney sent down 60 dot balls, the most of the BBL summer so far, while Lyon tore through the Stars, capturing three wickets to restrict Melbourne to an uncompetitive score.

Lyon was on a hat-trick at one point after dismissing Kevin Pietersen and Ben Dunk back to back, and has now enjoyed two wins in two matches for the Sixers this summer.

"When you come up against the best players you want to challenge yourself, Kevin's one of those guys, Peter Handscomb's one of the guys, Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner, I could go through the whole side," Lyon said.

"I was really happy with the way the ball came out to take a couple of wickets and really put the Stars on the back foot, that was the main thing.

"It's those little moments in the game where you need to try and execute your plan in T20 cricket.

"The big thing in T20 cricket if you've got your plans right is you go and execute to your best ability. Sometimes you're going to get hit for six sometimes you're going to take wickets or bowl dot balls.

"It's just about making sure you're committing to your plan. I was lucky enough to commit to most of my plans there tonight and got the reward."

Spearhead Sean Abbott also played his role, claiming 2-35 and taking a well-judged running catch late on to dismiss James Faulkner for 28.

Faulkner and Maxwell (28) top-scored for the home side, the latter threatening to take charge after blasting three powerful blows over the rope before a mis-timed cut shot off Abbott's bowling found itself nestled in the gloves of Peter Nevill.

Lyon was the man though in only his second game for the Sixers this season.

Pietersen struck the first blow when he stooped down to one knee and hammered the ball to the fine leg rope, but Lyon bounced back next ball, drawing the Englishman into a false shot that was gobbled up by the busy Abbott at deep mid wicket.

Dunk nicked through to Nevill next ball before Peter Handscomb staved off the hat-trick.