Match 51, Melbourne, January 16, 2022, 01:45 PM
149/6(20.0ov)
150/2(13.5ov)
Melbourne Stars beat Brisbane Heat by 8 wickets
Right then. That's it from the coverage of this game. The Big Bash League action will continue on 17th with two games coming your way. The first one sees a brushing of shoulders between Adelaide Strikers and Sydney Sixers at 1135 IST (0605 GMT). Followed by the clash between Brisbane Heat and Perth Scorchers which will begin at 1445 IST (0915 GMT). But as you all know you can join us early for the build-up. Cheers!
Glenn Maxwell wins the Man of the Match award for his all-round performance. He says it was a good start and hope the rest of the fixtures go in their favour. Mentions, the way Stoinis and Cartwright ended the games shows the powerhouse they possess in the middle. Adds, they just tried to match up to the ground and to get a couple of wickets fells really good.
Earlier in the day, after electing to bat, Heat got off to a very good start but the Stars' spinners fought back, squeezed the runs and also got wickets at the right time. Courtesy Ben Duckett, Heat got close to 150. That though was chased off without breaking a sweat.
Brisbane Heat needed wickets at the start but their bowlers were taken to the cleaners. All of them were hit to all parts of the ground. Mark Steketee and James Bazley did get a wicket but that was a little too late. To be honest, they just did not have enough runs on the board.
That is a thumping win for the Stars. They have made a mockery of this run chase. Their openers came out all guns blazing and added 100 in no time. Clarke notched up yet another 50. Both fell in quick succession but Cartwright and Stoinis ensured there were no more wickets to fall and got over the line. Not only they get maximum points from this game but this win will also boost their net run rate.
In over# 14
6
2
0
4
1
James Bazley 34/1(3.5)
13.5
6
SIX! BANG! Marcus Stoinis finishes the game in style. A short ball, on off. Stoinis smokes it over the long on fence for a maximum. MELBOURNE STARS WIN THE GAME BY 8 WICKETS.
13.4
2
Back of a length, on off. Stoinis hangs back and lofts it over mid on for a couple of runs.
13.3
.
Full length, outside off. Stoinis leaves it alone. It is inside the tramline. A rare dot ball.
13.2
4
FOUR! Up and over! A short ball, on off. Marcus Stoinis stays back and pulls it to long on for a boundary. He moves to 21 off just 7 balls.
13.1
1
Short and on leg. Hilton Cartwright pulls it to fine leg for a single.
In over# 13
2
6
2
6
1
6
Mitchell Swepson 38/0(3)
12.6
2
On off, pushed through cover for a brace.
12.5
6
SIX! BIGGIE! Full and on off. Stoinis smokes it over the long on fence for a maximum.
12.4
2
Full and on off. drives it over mid off for a couple.
12.3
6
SIX! Just evades the fielder. Is it a bird? It is a plane? No, it is Michael Neser. He has been exceptional in the field throughout the innings. If he would've gathered it, it would've been out of this world. A short ball, on off. Marcus Stoinis pulls it powerfully over wide of long on for a biggie. Michael Neser runs to his right and puts in a dive to that side but could only get his fingertips on it.
12.2
1
Flicked to mid-wicket for a single.
12.1
6
SIX! BOOM! Short and on leg. Hilton Cartwright goes back and dispatches it brutally over the long on fence for a biggie. It does not matter if the Power Surge is over.
In over# 12
0
1wd
1
1
1
0W
0
James Bazley 21/1(3)