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Brisbane Heat start their BBL title defence in dominant fashion at the MCG
Jordan Moll • December 19th, 2024 12:42 am
The Brisbane Heat have started their BBL title defence in dominant fashion by comfortably beating the Melbourne Stars at the MCG.
The Heat found themselves depleted with the late outs of Colin Munro and Tom Alsop to go along with their diminished fast bowling attack.
The Stars had lost their last five games in which they batted first, and knowing this, the Heat, after winning the bat flip, sent the Stars in.
The intent of the Stars' top-order batters was brought into question after their recent BBL opener against the Scorchers, but they went about addressing that by being 1/46 after five overs, losing only Tom Rogers early in proceedings.
Joe Clarke and Sam Harper led the fast-starting Stars with some skilful 360-degree shots, putting pressure back on the Heat’s undermanned fast bowling attack, bringing up a 50-run partnership in 39 balls.
Clarke departed for 32 just before drinks, bringing young Tom Whitney his first wicket in the BBL, then just after drinks, Harper was bowled for a well-made 46 off 35 balls.
In his 100th game as a Star, captain Marcus Stoinis showed his strength, hitting back-to-back sixes off the bowling of Paul Walter, who went for 47 runs off his four overs.
The Stars waited until the 15th over to take the Power Surge with the score of 3/111, but it was a calamity with Stoinis hitting the first ball of the surge straight to deep mid-wicket, departing for 26.
After getting 17 runs off the Power Surge, the Stars posted a defendable score of 6/162 helped by a handy cameo from Beau Webster of 28 off 18 balls.
Bartlett led the way for the Heat with figures of 3/25, with Whitney, Kuhnemann and Swepson all getting a wicket each.
Requiring 163 to win, the Heat’s openers, Jack Wood and Jimmy Peirson, started well with a 55-run opening partnership until Wood departed after being castled by a brilliant wrong-un by Hamish Mckenzie.
At drinks, the Heat found themselves 1/84 and looked set to chase down the Stars total with ease.
The Heat lost Matthew Renshaw second ball after drinks being caught behind for 18, bringing the score to 2/85 and keeping the Stars in it.
Campbell Kellaway, who was surprisingly picked to bat at nine for the Stars despite being a top-order batsman for Victoria, bowled in the 14th over, going for 11, making the equation very comfortable for the Heat.
The Heat took the Power Surge in the 15th over, and straight away, Peirson brought up a mature 50 off 46 deliveries and looked set to take the Heat home alongside Max Bryant.
Requiring 19 runs off the final three overs, the Stars required a minor miracle to leave with a win here at the MCG, and those hopes were crushed when Tom Curran dropped a tough catch that would off seen Bryant depart.
But it was the Peirson show at the MCG who saw the Heat over the line with 11 balls to spare, led by his knock of 72* off 56 balls.
Max Bryant complimented Peirson well with a score of 36 not out himself for a match-winning partnership of 78 between the two.
Stoinis and McKenzie were the sole wicket-takers for the Stars on what was a disappointing night for their fans.
The Heat will take on the Strikers on Sunday at the Gabba, while the Stars have a quick turnaround, playing the Strikers on Friday at Adelaide Oval as they look to change their fortunes in BBL|14.
