Pigeon cops BBL blow as Will Smith watches Stars fall

An unfortunate pigeon was in the firing line of a Peter Handscomb cut shot during Saturday evening's Big Bash match at the MCG.

A half-century to Handscomb helped the Melbourne Stars to 6-147 from their 20 overs in the clash with the Sydney Thunder, with actor Will Smith in attendance.

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Handscomb had the inglorious honour of almost killing a pigeon that had taken up a precarious spot to rest in the outfield.

The Stars batsman belted a full-blooded cut shot into the helpless bird, which flew off in shock as soon as it was hit.

Thankfully the blow didn't appear to be too serious for the pigeon after it was seen walking off the ground moments later.

The bottom-of-the-table Stars were sent in after losing the toss at the MCG and put in another disjointed performance with the bat.

Handscomb, who was moved up the order to open the batting with Ben Dunk, was the shining light with his 57 runs from 44 balls including seven fours.

Seb Gotch, brought into the side for departing international Luke Wright, chipped in with 31 runs from 25 balls but the Stars' big guns didn't fire.

Kevin Pietersen (12 runs from 11 balls), Glenn Maxwell (one from three) and James Faulkner (five from nine) all came and went without much impact.

Ashes combatants Usman Khawaja and James Vince combined brilliantly to make light work of the task and set up a seven-wicket win.

The Thunder's opening pair put on a quickfire 85-run partnership off just 8.2 overs as the visitors stormed to 3-149 from 16.1 overs.

The opening stand set the platform for skipper Shane Watson to blast his side to victory with an unbeaten 49 from 28 balls.

Australian Test No.3 Khawaja continued his impressive transition to the shorter form of the game with his 44 runs from 26 balls including nine fours.

His England counterpart Vince wasn't far behind with 40 runs from 29 deliveries, including four fours and two sixes.

One man who made an impact off the field was Hollywood star Smith, fresh from his cameo at the Australian Open on Friday night.

The actor showed what a down-to-earth character he is by meeting players and fans before the match got underway, and signing plenty of autographs for youngsters.

Smith was in attendance at Melbourne Park on Friday night for Nick Kyrgios's win over Jo-Wilfired Tsonga.

The Aussie tennis star provided a hilarious fan boy moment with the star after his match by admitting he loved Smith's movies almost as much as he loved 'Focus' co-star Margot Robbie.

Smith had earlier given a mid-match interview in which he provided a hilarious critique of Kyrgios's game.

"He has this little bow in his wrist (when holding his racquet), it looks like a power thing," Smith said with a smile.

"I don't know a lot about tennis but watching him makes me want to take it up a little bit."