Brisbane Heat 214 for 3 (Munro 99*, Labuschagne 30, Coulter-Nile 1-35) beat Melbourne Stars 111 (Cartwright 33, Swepson 3-23, Bartlett 2-8) by 103 runs
After a gutting defeat in last season’s BBL final, Heat produced an almost flawless performance in front of 20,000 satisfied fans. Munro gave them the perfect start by batting through the innings in a belligerent 61-ball knock that lifted Heat to a massive total of 214 for 3.
But Stars couldn’t be discounted of producing a record chase on the ground with a powerful batting line-up led by Maxwell. After his heroics at the World Cup, all eyes were on Maxwell, and he came to the crease early after openers Tom Rogers and Sam Harper fell to quick Michael Neser in the first over.
Heat were suddenly anxious after Maxwell produced an extraordinary attack on left-arm quick Spencer Johnson in the fourth over. He smashed 18 runs in the span of four deliveries, but a wispy whip to the boundary caused him visible discomfort, although he hit the next ball for six over backward square leg.
The dismissal left Stars in tatters at 52 for 4 in the seventh over, and they never recovered despite some lusty hitting from Hilton Cartwright. It was a forgettable start for Stars, who have been determined to rebound from last season’s wooden spoon as they bid for a drought-breaking title. The result leaves Stars already on the back foot, and they will be sweating Maxwell’s fitness.
Stars had entered confident, with Heat heavily impacted by the Prime Minister’s XI ongoing clash against Pakistan in Canberra. They were without wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson and top-order batters Nathan McSweeney and Matthew Renshaw, but had the services of Neser, who had pulled out of the Prime Minister’s XI line-up due to soreness.
Full report to follow…
