The Brisbane Heat continued their return to form as they defeated last seasons’ finalists the Melbourne Stars in a rain interrupted competition.
The Brisbane Heat had an electric start that aided them as their innings was reduced to 10 overs, captain Chris Lynn scored 48 from 23 balls as the Heat raced towards 115/3.
The Stars were set a revised DLS target of 129 to win from their ten overs but struggled throughout their chase to maintain the high run rate and lost wickets constantly throughout their innings.
A late flurry from Nick Larkin built from Marcus Stoinis’ start but it wasn’t enough for the Stars who fell 19 runs short of the required total to continue their recent poor form.
Glenn Maxwell won the bat flip and decided the Melbourne Stars would field first as the match was reduced to 17 overs a side after rain delayed the start.
Any moisture in the pitch wasn’t troubling the Heat’s opening pair with Chris Lynn and Max Bryant taking advantage of some poor bowling to race to 47 from the first four over.
The impressive opening partnership was broken by the spin of Adam Zampa, Bryant attempted to hit over cover only to find the hands of Stoinis.
Zampa didn’t have to wait long for his second wicket picking up the scalp of Joe Denly with his very next ball, trapping the Englishman in front of his stumps to dismiss him LBW.
At the end of the seventh over both sides left the field as the rain began to fall once again with the Heat 72/2 after 7.5 overs with Lynn remaining on 35* from 19 balls.
Three balls were allowed before the rain forced the players off again, Lynn placed Maxwell over the rope for consecutive sixes before play was halted once more.
But after another extended rain break, the game was reduced to 10 overs a-side, but it was worth the wait for Maxwell who got his revenge as he bowled Lynn for 48.
But pinch hitting from Lewis Gregory and Joe Burns made the most of the rest of Maxwell’s over with eight being scored from the final four balls of ninth over.
The final over proved to be essential as the Heat scored 22 to from it, giving the Heat a final score of 115/3 but setting the Stars 129 to win from their ten overs due to the DLS method.
The Stars started their chase the same way the Heat had, With Stoinis and Andre Fletcher punishing the loose first over of Xavier Bartlett for 15 runs.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman continued his impressive form with ball slowing the Stars chase down only allowing seven from the third over and pushing the required rate up to 15 an over.
Jack Wildermuth had been as impressive as Mujeeb, until the last two balls of his second over, the first chipped for four over third man by Stoinis and the Second pulled for an 87 metre six.
Andre Fletcher hadn’t got going and was dismissed as he attempted to take Mujeeb down the ground but some incredible fielding by Mark Steketee kept the ball alive, to throw it back to Bartlett to take the catch.
Nicholas Pooran had an impressive cameo with a quick 16 until an incredible catch from Greogory at deep square leg ended the powerful cameo, captain Maxwell was unable to have any effect being dismissed first ball.
The Melbourne Stars chase appeared to come to a complete standstill as Stoinis edged from the bowling of Lewis Gregory with Jimmy Pierson taking a good catch.
A late flurry from Larkin pulled the Stars back into the contest but it ultimately wasn’t enough for the Stars who fell 18 runs short of the Heat’s total.
The Big Bash continues on Friday, January 8 as the Adelaide Strikers take on the Melbourne Renegades.
Dan Carter Sport 