Big Bash League final: Sydney Thunder triumph in overcoming Kevin Pietersen’s Melbourne Stars

The former England batsman's 39-ball score of 74 was not enough to see his side triumph

Kevin Pietersen walks off after being dismissed during the T20 Big Bash League cricket final (Getty Images)

Kevin Pietersen could not deny Sydney Thunder a Big Bash League triumph but his blistering 74 for Melbourne Stars in yesterday’s tense final reminded England what they will be missing at the World Twenty20 in India in March.

England have slammed the selection door shut on the controversial batsman but the 35-year-old struck a fifty against Perth Scorchers on Friday and enthralled the Melbourne crowd with a scintillating 39-ball knock yesterday, albeit in a losing cause.

He smashed five sixes and four boundaries to help his team to 176 for 9 after the Thunder captain, Mike Hussey, won the toss against his brother David and asked Melbourne to bat first.

“We were under the instruction to go out and whack a few balls,” Pietersen said. “I’ve never batted like this. I’m loving it.”

He also took a catch to dismiss Jacques Kallis (28), but Usman Khawaja (70) struck his third successive 50-plus score to help Sydney to chase down the target with three balls to spare.

Ben Rohrer hit a six to seal the three-wicket victory for a side competing in their first final after finishing last on three occasions.

It was a perfect farewell for the retiring Sydney captain Mike Hussey, who walked on to a guard of honour and left with a heart-warming send-off from the Melbourne crowd.

The Thunder also won the inaugural women’s competition earlier in the day, beating their city rivals the Sydney Sixers by three wickets.

England commence their World Twenty20 campaign against West Indies in Mumbai on 16 March.