James Vince stuns in record-breaking BBL drama amid grim reality for Melbourne Stars

English cricket star James Vince has led the Sydney Sixers to a historic win in the Big Bash League (BBL) against the Melbourne Stars on Boxing Day. His brilliant unbeaten 101-run knock off just 58 balls, helped his side chase down a massive target of 195 with 11 balls to spare.

The successful chase with eight wickets to spare was the eighth biggest in the 14-year history of the BBL and the largest total overhauled in any match at the SCG. It also kept the Stars winless after four games, with their finals hopes fading fast, while the Sixers are undefeated after three games.

Chasing a monumental 195-run total, Vince was positive from the outset, with a range of high-class cricket shots. Vince's century also saw him join Steve Smith as the only player to score a BBL hundred for the club and it topped off a day of incredible batting performances.

His knock in the second innings followed a stunning display from Stars opener and fellow Englishman Ben Duckett, who dished out some Bazball brilliance on his way to 68 off just 29 deliveries. And that came just hours after Sam Konstas' magical knock in what could be a look into things to come in next year’s Ashes.

But Vince's incredible innings almost didn't happen, with the opening batsman ill ahead of the Boxing Day clash. But despite being unwell before the match and requiring medication to settle an unhappy stomach, Vince looked anything but out of sorts as he hit 101 from 58 balls at the SCG. "Batting second was handy, it let the medication set in. But once I got moving and the tablets kicked in, I felt better," Vince said after the game.

Melbourne Stars' woes worsen in horror start to BBL campaign

Vince spearheaded another perfectly executed run chase from the men in magenta, who always looked likely to reel in the big total set by the Stars. And it heaped misery on the Melbourne unit, who used to be one of the powerhouses of the Big Bash but they have struggled in recent years.

After missing the finals just once in the first nine seasons of the Big Bash and three-time runners-up, the Stars have crumbled in recent seasons. Seventh in 2020-21, sixth in 2021-22, wooden spooners for the second time in their history in 2022-23, and missing the finals due to crucial collapses at the back end of 2023-24 to miss finals and again the men in green appear likely to miss out again in 2024-25.

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The more perplexing part of the Stars' demise is the fact that they have always had a star-studded roster. Duckett, Tom Rogers, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tom Curran and Peter Siddle have all taken the field this season but haven't been able to get the side over the line and with every loss the chance of finals slips away. They currently are the only team without a win despite playing four games, while the two teams above them have only played two. It is grim watching if you are a Stars fan.