Melbourne Stars 4 for 129 (Cartwright 46*, Maxwell 46, Wood 2-28) beat Brisbane Heat 125 (Cooper 26, Coulter-Nile 4-10, Hussain 2-25) by 6 wickets
A pace-bowling masterclass from Nathan Coulter-Nile helped the Melbourne Stars claim all four points against the Brisbane Heat in Canberra as they began their tenth campaign for that elusive BBL title.
Coulter-Nile took career-best figures of 4 for 10 and produced two run-outs off his own bowling to ensure the hapless Heat were bowled out for just 125. The chase began nervously with Marcus Stoinis falling for a second-ball duck as the Stars scored one run from the first two overs with Xavier Bartlett bowling a wicket-maiden. They slumped to 3 for 34 and were fortunate not to fall further into the mire with Hilton Cartwright dropped at third man by debutant Jack Wood.
But Glenn Maxwell did what Glenn Maxwell does, clubbing 46 from 26 balls to boss the chase and allow Cartwright to guide the side home with 46 not out himself.
What's up, Max?
Max Bryant announced himself in BBL 08 as the heir to Chris Lynn's throne. But after his first season where he made 335 runs in 14 games, averaging 27.91 and striking at 150, his numbers have fallen dramatically. He's averaged just 15 and stuck at 136 in 11 games since. He started this season with a torturous run-a-ball 20. Sam Heazlett and he batted through the first four-over powerplay without losing a wicket but scored just 19 runs, allowing Maxwell to bowl two overs for just nine runs. Heazlett fell first ball of the fifth over, leaving the Heat in unfamiliar territory.
Coulter-Nile clinic
Coulter-Nile looked in superb rhythm for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL. He was too good for Bryant extracting an outside edge, and then forcing a miscue from Lynn with a well-executed cutter. The Heat fell away badly from there. Aside from one bizarre over where Maxwell threw Andre Fletcher the ball, the Stars were ruthless. Tom Cooper threatened briefly with 26 off 24 but Dilbar Hussain bowled him with a skilful slower ball yorker. Cartwright produced an outstanding direct hit run-out coming in from deep midwicket to end Dan Lawrence's debut BBL innings. He also took an equally brilliant catch at long-on running back with the flight to remove Simon Milenko. Coulter-Nile closed out the innings with two more wickets and two athletic, quick-thinking run-outs in his follow-through. He bowled 15 dot balls and did not concede a boundary in his finest BBL performance.
Spicy start
Marcus Stoinis was the dominant opener of the BBL last year but Bartlett made a huge breakthrough second ball. A late outswinger at 140kph found Stoinis' edge as he tried to launch down the ground. The Stars did not score off the first 11 deliveries of the innings with Fletcher and Cartwright bogged down. Fletcher broke the shackles with a towering six over midwicket that he didn't even feel the need to watch. But he fell shortly after. Ben Dunk was promoted ahead of Maxwell but he and Cartwright could only muster 14 runs from 16 balls. Cartwright was dropped by Wood at third man off Bartlett before the left-arm wristspinner made amends removing Dunk with his first ball to leave the Stars in real trouble at 3 for 34.
Maxwell mauling
In a game where the batting was well below par on both sides, Maxwell shone like a beacon. His first task was to get the Stars the Power Boost point, which was almost out of reach until he pummelled Wood over cover and midwicket off consecutive deliveries in the ninth over to ensure they reached 60 with two balls to spare in the tenth. His pure ball-striking took the pressure off Cartwright, who accelerated with a lovely lofted six to the sightscreen. Maxwell tried to end the game quickly thumping Wood twice onto the hill at deep midwicket before he was bowled trying a trademark reverse sweep with 18 to win. Cartwright and Nick Larkin had no trouble closing it out.
