The Adelaide Strikers' BBL title defence hangs in the balance as they embark on a pivotal road trip for matches against the Sydney Sixers and the Hobart Hurricanes.
With four rounds left the reigning champions are a game outside the top four and horribly out of form.
On the heels of a 10-wicket thumping by the Hobart Hurricanes, the Strikers slumped to a third loss in succession on Wednesday when the Melbourne Stars prevailed by 44 runs in Moe.
Having been sent in at Ted Summerton Reserve in Victoria's Gippsland region, the Stars made 2-167 from their 20 overs then bowled the Strikers out for 123 in the last over of their innings.
The Strikers' run chase was in a reasonable state at 3-97 in the 14th over but top scorer Jake Lehmann's departure for 40 runs sparked a horrendous collapse, the visitors losing 7-26.
"I reckon it will be good for us to go straight to Sydney and then on to Hobart ... just to be on the road," Lehmann said.
"Sometimes that can bring the group together ... I think that's what we need at the moment after a few losses.
"Hopefully we can bounce back against Sydney Sixers who we've had some success against in the past.
"... It (losing) is a bit of a habit at the moment that we obviously want to break."
The Strikers finish the regular season with matches against the Brisbane Heat and the Perth Scorchers at Adelaide Oval.
In his return match after being dropped five games into the season, Lehmann provided one of the few positives for the Strikers, top-scoring with 40 runs from 32 balls.
It was his career-best Twenty20 innings and came after he was elevated up the order to No.3.
"I've just been stuck at No.5 or 6 then missed out on a couple of games ... I was disappointed in myself more than anything," he said.
"I want to be a three format player, I want to play Twenty20 cricket, and to get that opportunity up the order was something that I've wanted to do for a while.
"Hopefully this shows that I can do it, that I can play a role in T20 cricket."
Australian Associated Press
