Maxwell’s 83 from 39 balls, littered with astonishing boundary hitting, led the Stars to a total that was too much for the home side. For the second time in three days, Brisbane Heat’s inability to chase totals was exposed. Tom Banton’s innings masked another mediocre day at the office for Heat’s batters.

Brisbane Heat won the toss and decided to bowl first. Captain Chris Lynn’s justification was that the pitch was an unknown quantity. It was the Heat who made the breakthrough early, from an unlikely source when Matthew Renshaw picked up the dangerous-looking Nic Maddinson for 8. Hilton Cartwright’s innings was tinged with fortune, but he was the next to fall, with the score on 40 when Max Bryant caught his mistimed shot.  The bowler was Josh Lalor, and he could have picked up Stoinis just after, but Jimmy Peirson put down the difficult chance.

Marcus Stoinis’ innings was caught short when trying to get Ben Cutting away and Sam Heazlett added to his three catches on Tuesday night with a tumbling catch. At the end of the seventh over, the Stars called their allowed time out to try and regroup. At 3/57, the Stars’ innings could have gone either way.

The introduction of Glenn Maxwell added expected impetus to the innings. However, a swift piece of fielding from Jimmy Peirson left Peter Handscomb short of his ground. The Stars batter was starting to get going, 20 from 14 balls, before Peirson’s pickup and throw. Maxwell could have followed straight away, but Ben Laughlin’s diving attempt was in vain.

Maxwell is the kind of batter who doesn’t need a chance and set about taking advantage. Maxwell decided to remove his batting helmet while the Heat bowling spin from both ends, his arms were just as free as his hair. At the other end, Ben Dunk took the lead from his captain but perished out in the deep, for 11, with the score in 110. Mitch Swepson was the bowler benefitting.

Clint Hinchliffe struggled to get the ball off the square and was put out of his misery when Zahir had him stumped for a six-ball duck. It’s a cardinal crime in T20 cricket and left the Stars at 6/118 with five overs left.

Maxwell brought up a well deserved fifty, from 23 balls, in the next over. The boundary was a result of another piece of statuesque fielding from Zahir. Kicking on, Maxwell set about demonstrating a lesson in strike rotation. Heat managed to tie Adam Zampa up somewhat when Maxwell was off strike.

In the 19th over, Josh Lalor bowled far too short to Maxwell and was punished with two towering sixes. The final over, bowled by Laughlin, was dealt with similarly before Maxwell was bowled for 83. From just 39 balls, it was a T20 batting masterclass from the Stars captain.

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Brisbane Heat’s response was measured in the first over before Tom Banton decided to try and hit Sandeep Lamicchane out of the attack from the spinner’s first ball. Bryant also got into the Nepali spinner as the Heat took 19 runs from the over.

Maxwell’s response to Lamicchane’s treatment was to give Haris Rauf a bowl. The Pakistan quick, recently playing in Tasmanian grade cricket and brought in to replace the injured Dale Steyn, removed Bryant with his first ball. The opener nicked the ball down the leg side, and Handscomb took the catch. Banton was less phased and pulled Rauf for a six to end the over. After four overs, Heat were 1/39 and ahead of the asking rate.

The Stars employed the risky ploy of bowling Adam Zampa in the powerplay, after seeing Banton go after pace, but the English opener carried on playing his shots. Lamicchane returned to the attack as the Stars persisted with spin to slow the scoring rate. Banton brought up his maiden BBL fifty, from 29 balls, with another huge six into the second tier of the stadium.

Banton’s captain, Chris Lynn, was far more cautious with his batting. However, his first attacking stroke was hit down the throat of long on and Dunk took the catch. Heat decided that losing their captain was a good time to invoke the time out and did so at 2/71 from eight overs.

Having seen his captain perish at long on, Banton did the same. Having just hit a monstrous six, this time Banton mistimed the shot and Dunk took his second catch. Disappointing for Heat and the batter with a large score beckoning. Banton departed for 64 from 36 balls with six fours and four sixes.

The loss of Banton signalled a less aggressive approach from new batter Ben Cutting and Renshaw. Stars fielded well as the required run rate started to creep towards ten runs per over. The pressure on Cutting saw the batter put the ball in the air and Dunk took his third catch of the game with an excellent running effort. At 4/100, Heat needed Renshaw and Sam Heazlett to rescue the position with Banton being the only batter to score significant runs.

With spin causing problems, Stars captain Maxwell decided that he would turn his arm over. Renshaw released some pressure with a six-four combination to end 15th over. A tight sixteenth over from Zampa was emphasised when Heazlett edged the last ball to Handscomb. Stars were turning the screw and Heat had no answer.

The Stars brought back Haris Rauf and his fast Yorkers which gave Renshaw and Jimmy Peirson very little to hit. Needing more than two runs a ball, Heat were desperate boundaries, but they were not forthcoming. Worrall removed Peirson for three to expose the Brisbane tailenders. Renshaw’s ill-advised ramp shot gave Worrall his second wicket in the over as Heat slumped to their second home defeat in three days.

 

Match Summary:

Melbourne Stars – 7/167 20 overs (Maxwell 83, Renshaw 1-2, Cutting 1-26)

Brisbane Heat – 8/145 20 overs (Banton 64, Renshaw 39, Zampa 3-30, Rauf 2-20, Worrall 2-21)

Melbourne Stars won by 22 runs

Attendance 11,969

Brisbane Heat: Chris Lynn (c), Tom Banton (wk), Max Bryant, Ben Cutting, Sam Heazlett, Josh Lalor, Ben Laughlin, James Peirson, Matt Renshaw, Mitch Swepson, Zahir Khan

Melbourne Stars: Glenn Maxwell (c), Hilton Cartwright, Ben Dunk, Peter Handscomb (wk), Haris Rauf, Clint Hinchliffe, Sandeep Lamichhane, Nic Maddinson, Marcus Stoinis, Daniel Worrall, Adam Zampa,