Heat hammer Stars to kick off title defence
BRISBANE Heat have kicked off their Big Bash League (BBL) title defence with a cruisy eight-wicket win over the Melbourne Stars on Wednesday night. Keeper Jimmy Perison carried his bat to score an unbeaten 76 (56) as the visitors surpassed Melbourne’s 6-162 with 11 balls remaining at the MCG.
>> SCROLL to see the scorecard
Peirson led a controlled run chase, which was capped off by a 78-run partnership with Max Bryant (36* off 22). The result was made all the more sweet by Brisbane’s depleted status, missing a raft of key players including imports Tom Alsop and Colin Munro, Spencer Johnson and Michael Neser.
Given their mounting injury list, the Heat handed debuts to Daniel Drew, who was due to bat at five, and Tom Whitney (1-28), while Jack Wood notched 27 (21) in a 55-run opening stand with Peirson. It was Wood’s first BBL appearance since 2022.
Stars captain Marcus Stoinis claimed 1-20 in his 100th BBL game, while Hamish McKenzie (1-42) was the only other wicket taker. Earlier, Xavier Bartlett showed his wares with the ball to take 3-25 as the Stars were sent in to bat.
After a nine-ball duck, Stars opener Joe Clarke managed a much improved 32 off 23 deliveries, combining with keeper Sam Harper (46 off 36) to add 52 runs before drinks. Stoinis (26 off 17) and Beau Webster (28* off 19) also got starts.
Another positive for the home side was the appearance of Hilton Cartwright, who just days earlier was carted off Perth Stadium in a neck brace. He made 15 (14) batting at five before economic leggie Mitch Swepson (1-15) had him caught out.
The Stars, now 0-2, will next be in action on Friday night against Adelaide Strikers. Glenn Maxwell is expected to return for the clash at Adelaide Oval. The Strikers will also be Brisbane’s next opponent in the Heat’s first home game of the season on Sunday.
SCORECARD
RESULT: Heat won by 8 wickets with 11 balls remaining
POTM: Jimmy Peirson (Brisbane Heat)
BAT FLIP: Heat won and elected to bowl
Melbourne Stars 6-162 (20)
Sam Harper 46 (36), Joe Clarke 32 (23), Beau Webster 28* (19)
Xavier Bartlett 3-25 (4), Mitch Swepson 1-15 (4), Tom Whitney 1-28 (3)
Brisbane Heat 2-163 (18.1)
Jimmy Peirson 72* (56), Max Bryant 36* (22), Jack Wood 27 (21)
Marcus Stoinis 1-20 (4), Hamish McKenzie 1-42 (4)
SQUADS
Melbourne Stars: Tom Rogers, Joe Clarke, Sam Harper (wk), Marcus Stoinis (c), Beau Webster, Hilton Cartwright, Tom Curran, Hamish McKenzie, Campbell Kellaway, Adam Milne, Brody Couch
Brisbane Heat: Jack Wood, Jimmy Peirson (wk), Matthew Renshaw, Daniel Drew, Max Bryant, Paul Walter, Will Prestwidge, Xavier Bartlett, Tom Whitney, Mitch Swepson (c), Matt Kuhnemann
Heat hammer Stars to kick off title defence
BRISBANE Heat have kicked off their Big Bash League (BBL) title defence with a cruisy eight-wicket win over the Melbourne Stars on Wednesday night. Keeper Jimmy Perison carried his bat to score an unbeaten 76 (56) as the visitors surpassed Melbourne’s 6-162 with 11 balls remaining at the MCG. >> SCROLL to see the scorecard […]
Hayward’s maiden century ensures Victoria’s unbeaten start continues
WITH both Victoria and South Australia heading into Wednesday’s WNCL fixture unbeaten, it was the Victorian women that remained so after a heroic effort with the bat from all-rounder Ella Hayward. In what was an up-and-down match, there were two tons that stood above the rest of the batting performances, that of Victoria’s Hayward (112 […]
Smashing Sams cameo stuns Strikers
A BRUTAL display of death batting has seen Daniel Sams strike the Sydney Thunder to a remarkable win over Adelaide. With his side needing 34 off the final two overs to chase 183, the allrounder took Lloyd Pope for 31 in the 19th, and hit the winning runs thereafter to leave the Manuka Oval crowd […]
NSW repeats history to break Tasmania again
NEW South Wales has made it two from two against Tasmania in the WNCL in the last week, most recently winning by 159 runs. NSW first made 5/288 from its 50 overs, before Tasmania could only muster 129 before being bowled out. The start to NSW’s innings was chaotic, blasting 10 runs off the first […]
Captain’s knock sees Sixers sink Renegades
MOISES Henriques has steered the Sydney Sixers to a five-wicket victory over Melbourne Renegades to open their BBL|14 campaign on a high. The Sixers captain blasted an unbeaten 53 of 27 deliveries to see his side surpass the Renegades’ 7-169 total with nine balls to spare at the SCG. >> SCROLL to see the full […]
Scorchers light up furnace with hot BBL|14 start
PERTH Scorchers have kicked off the new Big Bash League (BBL) season in ideal fashion after a six-wicket win over the Melbourne Stars on Sunday night. In front of over 30,000 fans at Perth Stadium, the home side was led past the set target of 147 by returning captain Ashton Turner. >> SCROLL to see […]
Tortoise Breaks Tiger as NSW earns big win
NEW SOUTH Wales has kicked off the second half of its 2024/25 WNCL season in the best way possible, defeating Tasmania by three wickets yesterday. The Breakers bowled the Tigers out for just 172, and although the Breakers cut their chase fine they still reached their target with 16 balls to spare. NSW had their […]
Sutherland posts ODI century as Australia completes the sweep
DESPITE a brilliant century from Smriti Mandhana and a tight economical spell from Arundhati Reddy, Australia prevailed at the WACA by 83 runs on Wednesday night. The Australian Women’s Cricket Team took a clean sweep of their series against India after another comprehensive win in game three. Their big win set-up by all-rounder Annabel Sutherland‘s […]
Tigers’ Shield season nears extinction after SACA stunner
THE FINAL day of Sheffield Shield action before a two-month break was full of drama, starting with South Australia’s dramatic two-run defeat of Tasmania. Chasing 429 for victory, the Tigers needed four runs off the last delivery with one wicket in hand, but a calamitous runout cost them even a draw. >> SCROLL to see […]
