James Vince became only the second Sixers player to score a century in the BBL as the men in magenta inflicted more misery on the winless Stars with the highest run chase of the BBL season.

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His second-innings knock followed a stunning performance from Ben Duckett, who showed Bazball brilliance just hours after Sam Konstas’ magical strike in what could be a preview of next year’s Ashes.

The Stars have now lost all four games after failing to defend their monster score of 9/194 thanks to Duckett’s whirlwind 68.

Instead, the Sixers rarely looked troubled as they aimed for the overall title with eight wickets in hand and 11 balls to spare, thanks to an unbeaten 101 from Vince, who became the only player alongside Steve Smith to score a BBL century for the club .

Vince and Josh Philippe (42 off 23) added 83 for the first wicket before Duckett took the first of his two catches, with Vince having a particular fondness for Glenn Maxwell, who scored 25 in the second over of the Power Surge.

The Englishman played standard cricket knocks and made 100 off 57 balls as the hosts made a daunting chase look shockingly easy.

It was another perfect fightback from the hosts, who beat the Thunder with the last ball of the Sydney Smash, but they have another injury problem with Jack Edwards (hamstring strain) not able to bat.

BEN STARS, BUT IT’S NOT ENOUGH

England’s opener against the Strikers last week was first ball, but Duckett bounced back significantly to help the winless Stars to a total that should have been winning.

Inspired by Konstas’ incredible knock in Melbourne, Duckett hit the Sixers in all directions, with the number one draft pick hitting an Akeal Hosein over six boundaries and helping the visitors to 57 points on the powerplay.

It was a stunning display of power and placement as he delivered a couple of switch hits to the world’s best T20 bowler in one of the most brutal knocks of the season.

Duckett eventually failed with 68 off 29 after completing his half-century in just 22 balls with the first of his two sixes.

“I guess I’ve never done that before (hitting six boundaries in one over) but I’m not entirely sure,” Duckett said on Fox Cricket’s coverage after his whirlwind.

“It’s probably the most nervous I’ve ever been in a T20 with a Golden Duck in my first game for a new team.

“I’m just really happy that I was able to contribute to this today.

“We were just talking about being fearless and trying to entertain and that’s exactly what the Melbourne Stars have done over the years. We don’t want to sink into our shells.”

The Stars looked set to score 220 with Glenn Maxwell at crease, but the innings stalled when he fell for 32 on the last ball of the Power Surge, leaving their finals hopes hanging by a thread.

We trust in Todd

Hosein may have been ailing in all areas, but fellow spinner Todd Murphy was huge for the Sixers as he stopped the runs with 2-26 from his four overs in front of 23,212 fans.

Quicks Jackson Bird and Ben Dwarshuis took five wickets between them but it was Murphy who frustrated the visitors with a performance that will only improve his chances of being included in the Test squad for Sri Lanka.

“NO NEED”

The Melbourne Stars got off to a perfect start in their Boxing Day blockbuster against the Sydney Sixers – but a lack of “cricket smarts” left the winless team faltering.

Ben Duckett had defeated the Sixers with an outstanding 68 from just 29 balls in an innings that included six fours in a single over at the SCG.

But when Maxwell and Stars captain Marcus Stoinis were just at the goal area, Melbourne decided to go for a power play in the 11th round – and that backfired.

Maxwell tried to send Ben Dwarshuis into the stands, but instead ran his pool shot and was caught by Todd Murphy for 32 of 17.

Retired Australian star David Warner criticized the sacking of his former teammate Maxwell.

“I just reckon there are so many overs left… if Maxy is at 60 or 70 and they’ve got three or four overs left… I’m happy for him to keep going,” Warner said on Fox Cricket.

“But when they (Maxwell and Stoinis) are the two senior batters on the sidelines and they know they can get 15/16 (runs per over) at the back end, there is no need for that.

“He’ll be mad at himself, that’s just the way he plays.

“Sometimes you have to have a bit of cricketing wisdom.

“These two are the greatest batsmen in world cricket. 360 degree player.

“Sometimes just a little clever.”

Fellow commentator Brendon Julian described Maxwell’s wicket as a turning point for the Stars.

“It could have been ugly — 210 or 215,” he said of the Sixers’ chase.

The Melbourne team lost 4/36 off 30 balls – despite being on course to surpass the 200 mark.

Stars all-rounder Hilton Cartwright admitted his side faltered late on.

“We just lost a bit of momentum back there,” he told Fox Cricket.

“You reach the mental barrier of a score over 200.”

The Stars still managed to get the Sixers to victory with 195 points.

The game started at 6:05pm AEDT from the SCG.

TEAMS

Sydney Sixers: Moises Henriques (c), Jackson Bird, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Akeal Hosein (West Indies), Hayden Kerr, Todd Murphy, Josh Philippe, Lachlan Shaw, Jordan Silk, James Vince (England)

In: Jackson Bird, Hayden Kerr

From: Sean Abbott, Joel Davis

Melbourne stars: Marcus Stoinis (c), Hilton Cartwright, Ben Duckett (England), Tom Curran (England), Sam Harper, Glenn Maxwell, Jonathan Merlo, Usama Mir (Pakistan), Tom Rogers, Peter Siddle, Doug Warren

In: Usama Mir

Departures: Beau Webster, Adam Milne