Winless Stars go down to Wade-inspired Hurricanes

In-form Hobart Hurricanes skipper Matthew Wade has inflicted some pain on his old Big Bash League side with a Christmas Eve half-century.

Set 156 to win by the Melbourne Stars, Wade hit 52 from 37 opening the batting at Bellerive Oval on Monday as the Hurricanes notched a six-wicket victory with eight balls to spare.

It continues a rich vein of form for the former Australia Test wicketkeeper, who entered the BBL as the leading Sheffield Shield run scorer.

In front of crowd of 9132, Wade brought up his 50 with a six over mid-on off paceman Jackson Coleman.

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He top-edged young Nepalese spinner Sandeep Lamichhane (3-24) in the 14th over.

Lamichhane trapped Ben McDermott (28) in front two overs later to give the Stars a sniff but needing less than a run a ball, veteran George Bailey (27 not out) guided Hobart to their second win from two starts this season.

The Stars' total of 5-155 never looked enough despite some lusty blows from Glenn Maxwell, who top scored with 47 from 31.

Maxwell smacked five sixes after his side was sent in, including a massive 83m reverse sweep that cleared the rope.

Maxwell shared an 87-run third-wicket stand with Nick Larkin, who hit 45 from 33, to salvage Melbourne from a spot of early bother.

The pair combined at 2-32 in the sixth over after Hurricanes import Jofra Archer (3-25) got rid of Stars openers Travis Dean (11) and Ben Dunk (10) cheaply.

The Stars were restricted to just one boundary during the six-over powerplay.

Larkin was bowled by D'Arcy Short in the 15th over, before Archer returned to trap Maxwell in front and blunt the Stars' momentum in another stand-out performance.

Short took an economical 2-23 from four overs and hit 34 opening the chase with Wade as the Hurricanes reached 4-156 in the penultimate over.

The Stars are without a win after their opening two BBL matches.

AAP

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