Melbourne Stars defeat Sydney Sixers

Melbourne Stars claimed their maiden win of the Big Bash season with a five-wicket success over Sydney Sixers on Sunday.

The Stars came into this clash at the Sydney Cricket Ground having lost their opening two matches, while their opponents sat at the table's summit.

Having won the toss and elected to bat, the Sixers could only manage 139-6 from their allocation, which may well have been more had captain Moises Henriques not had to leave the field with an apparent left calf injury when well set on 41 from 34 balls.

In response, the Stars made relatively easy work of their chase, as Glenn Maxwell and Peter Handscomb both hit half centuries at an excellent rate.

Skipper David Hussey was there to see his side home, finishing unbeaten with 24 from 15 balls as the Stars reached their target with eight deliveries to spare.

Earlier, the Sixers had got off to an inauspicious start as both Michael Lumb (15) and Brad Haddin (2) fell inside the opening four overs.

Nic Maddinson (25) and Henriques steadied the innings with a partnership of 60 before the former was bowled by Adam Zampa (1-23).

After Henriques departed the action, Jordan Silk's 35 from 28 balls helped the Sixers to a modest total, Michael Beer ending with impressive figures of 1-16 from his four overs.

Like the Sixers, the Stars began poorly with both Marcus Stoinis (0) and Luke Wright (8) departing in the early stages to leave the visitors 21-2.

But a stand of 83 between Maxwell (50) and Handscomb (52) in 10 overs turned the encounter in the Stars' favour, both men scoring at a strike rate of 130 and above.

Although both - along with James Faulkner for a duck - fell with the finish line in sight, Hussey's experience saw the Stars home.