Kathmandu, Feb. 11 -- A brilliant bowling from Nepali leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane coupled with an equally superb batting from Australian big-hitting batsman Glenn Maxwell steered Melbourne Stars to the semi-finals of the Big Bash League (BBL) Twenty20 Tournament with a 94-run thrashing of Sydney Sixers in Melbourne on Sunday.

Batting first at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Stars rode on a whirlwind knock from skipper Maxwell to post a respectable 168-6 in 20-overs. In reply Sixers, who were already assured of the last-four berth, were bowled out for a paltry 74 in 13.4 thanks to a disciplined bowling from the Stars.

Man-of-the-match Maxwell scored a quickfire 82 with six sixes and four boundaries in his 43-ball knock. Opener Marcus St...