Sam Konstas survives first ball run out after error during Thunder's heavy loss to Stars

Sam Konstas has survived the horror of being run out from the first ball of the game after making a crucial mistake.

In the BBL fixture between the Melbourne Stars and Sydney Thunder, the former won the toss and elected to bowl at Manuka Oval.

Konstas faced the first ball against Glenn Maxwell and pushed the off-spinner's delivery to mid-wicket.

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The former Test opener then pushed for a risky second run and it looked like he was definitely out.

"I don't think he's slid his bat here Sam Konstas," Brad Haddin said on Fox Cricket.

Brendon Julian added: "It was a gusty run, I reckon he's in trouble".

The replay showed Konstas bat was in the air but was grounded just in time from when wicketkeeper Sam Harper dislodged the bails.

The third umpire gave Konstas not out which would've brought a major sigh of relief.

"If he had been given out he would've been given a kick up the backside by Trevor Bayliss for not sliding his bat," Mark Waugh said.

The missed opportunities continued for the Stars when Harper dropped Matthew Gilkes on 21 off Haris Rauf's bowling.

Rauf was given another chance three balls later when Gilkes hit one back at him. Rauf claimed the catch but the replay showed it had bounced before hitting the hands.

"Not even close," Waugh said.

Gilkes was dismissed for 24 the next ball, caught by Marcus Stoinis.

Konstas would go on to only make 11 while Shadab Khan top scored with 25. The Thunder made a disappointing 128 as Rauf took 3-29 from four overs.

The Stars chased down the target in 14 overs only one wicket down. Joe Clarke hit 60 at the top while Sam Harper (29) and Glenn Maxwell (39) were the two not out batters.