Melbourne Stars allrounder James Faulkner has survived an appeal for handling the ball to steer his side to a tight Big Bash League win over the Hobart Hurricanes at the MCG.
Chasing just 135 to win, the Stars made tough work of their chase before getting home with five balls and four wickets in hand on Saturday night.
Faulkner was given not out off a handling-the-ball appeal in the penultimate over, bowled by medium-pacer Ben Laughlin (3-14), who almost proved a match-winner.
But with just five needed off Evan Gulbis’ final over, Faulkner top-edged the first ball for four, before a no-ball finished the game.
The Stars had struggled early in their chase in the face of a fiery opening spell from left-arm quick Doug Bollinger, whose first two overs were just the third and fourth maidens of the BBL season.
But after reaching just 1-38 from their first eight overs, the introduction of New Zealand allrounder Scott Styris for the ninth proved disastrous for Hobart, yielding 21 runs including three sixes.
Despite losing three wickets in the next five overs, including two in a quality spell from Laughlin, the Stars were always likely winners from that point.
Laughlin bowled a tight 19th over, which included the appeal against Faulkner when the ball brushed his hand after he fended a delivery off his body.
Earlier, the Hurricanes struggled to 8-134, with Stars quicks Clint McKay (3-25), Faulkner (2-23) and in-form Sri Lankan Lasith Malinga (2-19) dominating with 7-67 between them.
Tim Paine (46 from 46 balls) was Hobart’s top-scorer, while Styris (24 off 17) provided some inventive shot-making late, but Ricky Ponting (eight) failed in possibly his last MCG innings.
The Stars have now won two of three games and the Hurricanes one of two.