Thanks to a brilliant outfield catch by Glenn Maxwell and a batting masterpiece by Marcus Stoinis, the Melbourne Stars ended an eight-game BBL losing run.
After losing their first five games of the season and the last three of the previous campaign, the Stars achieved a historic victory at the Gabba against the reigning champion Brisbane Heat by a margin of five wickets.
Max Bryant’s scorching and undefeated 77 off 48 deliveries helped the Heat to 149 for 7 batting first. In an all-around outstanding individual fielding display, Maxwell produced one of the best catches in the BBL.
With quick bowlers Xavier Bartlett and Spencer Johnson dominating the top order and the visitors teetering at 14 for 3, the hosts had the ideal start to the Stars’ run-chase.
In a 132-run partnership for the third wicket, Stoinis (62 off 48) and England import Dan Lawrence (64* off 38) provided what the Stars needed.
To earn his first victory as Stars captain this season, Stoinis bludgeoned everything loose and timed the pursuit flawlessly, hitting Paul Walter for four fours in a single over. In a magnificent last innings, Lawrence raised the stakes to relieve Stoinis of some of the burden.
In T20 cricket, Maxwell has performed many incredible feats of brilliance, but he elevated it to a new level with a catch that will go down in history—his fourth of the innings.
The 36-year-old threw the ball back into the field of play while in the air after leaping meters over the long-on boundary to capture it with one hand. Then, with composure, he walked back over the boundary rope to finish the catch and send Will Prestwidge reeling.
From the beginning, the ball sailed about, supporting Stoinis’ choice to send Heat in. Colin Munro, the captain, has scored 23 runs in four innings this summer, continuing his dismal play in the BBL. Mark Steketee’s second early wicket against his old team came from fellow opener Tom Banton.
The hosts were on the rack as Nathan McSweeney was clean bowled by veteran Peter Siddle with the opening delivery of his spell.
Before Bryant gained control and lofted Siddle into the crowd twice with powerful strokes and carted Steketee for three sixes, Walter threatened to cut loose. He gave his bowlers a total to defend by finishing with six maximums in a dazzling innings that combined skillful ramp strokes and physical force.
However, in the run chase, Stoinis and Lawrence came through to send the reigning champions, the Heat, to their third straight defeat.
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