Brisbane Heat Beats Melbourne Stars in a High Scoring Encounter

Brisbane Heat registered a 15-run win after they set Melbourne Stars 207 to win in their KFC Big Bash League season-opener at the Gabba. Despite missing hard-hitting Chris Lynn, the hosts powered their way to 206 for the loss of 6 wickets from their 20 overs thanks to strong contributions from numerous batsmen after Stars captain won the toss and put Heats to bat first. However, Heat made a strong comeback with the help of Marcus Stoinis after losing early wickets but failed to cross the line.

Captain Brendon McCullum looked in fine touch, pelting the ball to square boundaries before getting out after making a quickfire 40 from 22 balls. Joe Burns (50 off 28), Alex Ross (51 off 36) and Ben Cutting (35 off 18) then continued the onslaught as the bowlers found it tough to pitch the ball. Heats’ registered the first two hundred mark as they posted a target of 207 on the halfway mark.

The Stars used as many as eight bowlers with allrounder Marcus Stoinis topping the bowler’s chart with 3-28 from his quota of four overs. Left-arm spinner Michael Beer (1-21 off four) was as usual economical. Newly appointed captain John Hastings (1-48 off three) and  Scott Boland (0-38 off three) were hammered to all around the park.

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In reply, Stars were reduced to 53 for 4 in 6.5 overs with all the top batsmen back in the hut in an attempt to match the required run-rate. It was looking a one-sided affair, before Marcus Stoinis and James Faulkner started to turn things around. The powerful all-rounder Stoinis smacked a half-dozen sixes to score 99 runs off 51 balls before getting run-out in the last over; however, his valiant effort couldn’t take his team over the rope. However, Faulkner remained unbeaten on 47 runs off 38 balls.

The man-of-the-match Stoinis was only able to muscle the Stars bowlers, which was otherwise a very disciplined attack. The wickets were shared evenly with Shadab Khan, the youngest overseas player to feature in BBL picking up two wickets.

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Brisbane Heat will look to double their points when they face Melbourne Renegades scheduled to be played on December 23rd, and on the other hand, Melbourne Stars will be keen to turn things in their favor when they take on Perth Scorchers on December 26 at WACA.

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Brief Score: Brisbane Heats: 206/ 7 ( Alex Ross 51, Joe Burns 50) Stoinis 3/38

Melbourne Stars: 191/6 ( Stoinis 99, Faulkner 38) Shadab Khan 2/41