Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
The Melbourne Stars have not lost a single game
A solid all-round performance by the Melbourne Stars was too much for the Brisbane Heat to handle as they were beaten by three wickets at the Gabba.
Australia left-arm pace bowler Jackson Bird and Sri Lanka seamer Lasith Malinga tore through the Heat’s batting line-up with two wickets apiece.
However, Heat batsman Daniel Christian deserves some credit as well as he amassed an impressive half-century.
Heat captain Luke Pomersbach won the toss and chose to bat first.
However, his decision to do so backfired in the worst possible way as the team’s top five batsmen were back in pavilion with only 53 run on the board.
Christian and Chris Sabburg stemmed the bleeding with a magnificent 74-run partnership, during which Christian brought up his half-century, before Sabburg was caught behind off the bowling of John Hastings for 16.
The Heat ended up making 144/7 off their 20 overs thanks to Christian’s unbeaten 68 off 48 balls, which included four boundaries and three sixes.
Bird and Malinga were the pick of the bowlers with two wickets apiece, while Hastings, David Hussey and Luke Wright all chipped in with one wicket each.
Chasing 145 to win, the Stars got off to a solid start as their opening pair of Wright and captain Cameron White put together a 47-run partnership before White was caught by Ben Cutting at mid-on off the bowling of Mark Steketee.
Wright managed to make 37 runs before being caught behind off the bowling of James Hopes.
Brad Hodge failed to have an impact with the bat as he only scored one run before being caught behind off the bowling of Hopes.
David Hussey managed to make 16 runs before he was caught behind to become Hopes’ third victim of the match.
Wicketkeeper Matthew Wade made a quickfire 33 before he was clean bowled by Cameron Gannon.
Marcus Stoinis only scored 11 runs before he was caught by Cutting at point off the bowling of Gannon.
Rob Quiney smashed 22 off 14 balls, which included one boundary and a six, to put the Stars on the brink of victory.
Hastings hammered a huge six off the second last ball of the match to seal the deal for the Stars.
Hopes was the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Gannon and Steketee picked up two wickets apiece.