Sam Harper clubbed a maiden domestic T20 century as Melbourne Stars cruised to a seven-wicket win over Sydney Sixers to maintain their 100% record in the Big Bash.
The Stars won the toss and their decision to bowl first paid off after they restricted the Sixers to a total of 144 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
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Tom Curran finished with 3-26 – including the wicket of Pakistan opener Babar Azam for just two – while evergreen seamer Peter Siddle claimed 3-23.
Daniel Hughes top-scored for the Sixers with a 42-ball 60 but when he was dismissed by Curran, they stumbled from 90-2 at the start of the 12th over to a modest total.
The Stars lost opener Joe Clarke for a duck to Sean Abbott, but a 54-run stand for the second wicket between Campbell Kellaway and Harper gave the chase momentum.
Harper was the main aggressor as he brought up his half-century off 28 balls then went up through the gears.
The 29-year-old wicketkeeper-batter reached three figures for the first time in domestic T20 cricket, eclipsing his previous best of 89 for Melbourne Renegades in 2023, off 50 balls.
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Left-arm spinner Joel Davies removed Kellaway and Jonathan Merlo, both for 14, en route to 2-16, but Harper got the Sixers over the line with 15 balls to spare.
Harper finished unbeaten on 110 off 60 balls in an innings which featured 12 fours and six sixes.
The Stars have now won all three of their games and sit top of the BBL standings on six points while the Sixers are fourth.
[BBC]
