The Brisbane Heat host the Melbourne Stars at the GABBA tonight, with both sides looking for their first victory in the 2014/2015 BBL season. Join The Roar from 7.10pm for live scores and updates (AEDT).
It’s a must win contest for the Melbourne Stars if they want to make the post season. They have dropped their first two games of the season. It’s been a very disappointing campaign thus far for Cameron White and his men, who were soundly beaten in Adelaide off the bat of Tim Ludemann and then defeated at home just two days later.
The Stars prized recruit Kevin Pietersen started off strongly in Adelaide, where he compiled a neat 66, but registered just one run in the Stars seven wicket defeat to the Hobart Hurricanes. Unfortunately, the star Englishman will miss tonight’s contest, with him being away on holidays over the Christmas period.
Pietersen’s absence will not be reflected at all in the crowd numbers, with the Courier Mail reporting tickets are selling fast despite the star player missing the game.
For the Heat, an opening duo of Mike Hussey and Jacques Kallis have proved to be simply too much for them to handle against the Thunder. The pair amassed 160 runs for the first wicket and there was no coming back for the Heat, who limped to 152 chasing 209 for victory.
Whilst a loss tonight for the Heat would not be totally disastrous, it would put a major dent in their hopes of securing a semi final berth.
PREDICTION:
This is the perfect opportunity for the Melbourne Stars to get on the board, the Heat attack is unproven and the Stars have a plethora of talented batsmen. Expect the Stars to claim their first victory.
Join The Roar from 7:10pm AEDT for a call of the action and live scores from this Big Bash League clash.
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
You may well have seen it by now, Maxwell strode to the crease, and on his first ball he danced down the pitch. He then raised his bat and it seemed imminent he was going to play a stroke, then he left an in swinging delivery and got clean bowled. Was absolutely bizarre. KP was back in England I believe for Christmas, no injury concerns there with him, he should be right to go next match. Flintoff had a solid game, he made 15 odd with the bat, his bowling is still a little rusty but he was pushing 130km+ and took a couple of wickets. It was really his last over that let him down when Quiney went ballistic.
jamesb
Guest
Probably not.
Tom from Perth
Guest
Excellent summation Justin. Three questions: What was Maxwell's dismissal? Why didn't KP play? How was Flintoff bowling?
Jo M
Guest
Do you honestly think that would help?
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
The Brisbane Heat have escaped with a much needed 1 run victory at the GABBA tonight. Chris Lynn was the catalyst for the Heat's competitive total of 8/164. Lynn compiled a flashy 48 off just 34 balls which included 5 boundaries to ensure the home side would reach a competitive total. Nathan Reardon chipped in with 30 off 22 deliveries. The Stars bowled poorly tonight, and in a match that was so close, it may well have been the difference. Jackson Bird was often too short, straying away from his greatest asset as a bowler, which is line, length and swing. Although Scott Boland picked up two wickets, he was often short and struggled with his consistency all innings, which resulted in 45 runs coming from his 4 overs. But the real difference tonight came through the Heat's Ryan Duffield, who did something that has been seldom seen lately. He swung the ball. The left hander bowled a perfect opening spell and single handedly crippled the Stars top order. He dismissed Stars' Skipper Cameron White with a ball that just held its line and then sent Glenn Maxwell back the ball after in one of the most bizarre dismissals ever witnessed. Maxwell's showing, or lack of, may well seal his fate for the upcoming World Cup when the Australian Squad is announced early next year. Luke Wright was industruous for his 33, and James Faulkner threatened to blow the game open until he fell for 34. But it was Rob Quiney who almost stole this one for the Melbourne Stars. Coming in to replace Kevin Pietersen, Quiney struggled in his first appearance at the crease, often missing deliveries that were there to be hit. Quiney then pulled a hamstring or groin whilst returning for a second run, and moments later left the field injured. What happened later in the innings was truly ridiculous. After not hitting a single shot out of the middle of the blade, Quiney came back to the crease with his side teetering at 7/125 and proceeded to race to 45 off just 31 deliveries. It was a truly destructive innings, so much so, that with just one delivery left, the Stars needed 4 runs to tie the game and take the final result to a super over. A six would win the match. Ryan Duffield bowled the final over, and the nerves got the better of him. On the final ball Quiney got what he wanted, a low full toss that was ripe to be hit. Unfortunately, Quiney could not get enough on it, and instead of clearing the ropes for six or finding the gap in the field to tie the match up, he and Scott Boland ran three. The final result? The Heat held on for a one run victory. It was an incredible sight to see, but it is clear Quiney will be out for quite some time with what appears to be a lower leg strain. And the Stars have now fallen to 0-3, a semi final berth seems almost out of a question now. Only time will tell.
jamesb
Guest
Look, I've made light of Quiney in the past, but I did admire his courage tonight. Do feel for him. As for the big show, he needs to go to a corner store and buy himself a brain.
Jo M
Guest
I really don't either, but Quiney tried his guts out.
Bobbo7
Guest
I don't. They should be batted first. Thunder put the Sixers in last night and lost chasing too.
Jo M
Guest
Feel sorry for the Stars, well maybe just a tiny little bit.
Red Kev
Guest
Flintoff and Duffield nearly lost that one. Awesome hitting from Quiney. The only thing that could have made that game better would be if Cutting's catch had been completed (he tried to throw it back in to the field but didn't manage it)
jamesb
Guest
That was fun.
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
Horrible, Horrible death bowling by Ryan Duffield, but he gets away with it. Another full toss, Quiney, on one leg, absolutely roosts it to cow corner but it hasn't got enough gas, they only get three runs! The Heat win by one run! Incredible scenes here... unbelievable. Quiney finished 45 not out of just 31 balls! Match wrap up to come soon.
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
Boland gets a single! 5 needed off the last ball! If Quiney hits a boundary we will go to a super over! A six will win this game for the Stars!
Rob McHugh
Roar Guru
This is terrible death bowling.
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
Dramatic scenes here, Quiney gets another full toss but he can't connect on this one, they get the single and Quiney is stranded at the non striker's end! What can Boland do?
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
SIX! Duffield bowls this full and wide outside off, Quiney squeezes it down to mid off for a couple. Then the next ball, Duffield delivers a full toss and Quiney, yes, Quiney, has hit another SIX!!!! 7 off 3 needed! Quiney is 41 off 29!
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
SIX!!! Quiney flicks the ball through mid wicket and hobbles through for another two runs. The next ball he does it again! Suddenly Quiney is 27 off 26! If Quiney were to get a boundary here it would be less than 20 needed off the last over! And as I say this, Quiney has cleared the boundary! I repeat, Quiney has launched another six, this time he clears the front leg and launches it over cover! Game on! 16 needed off the last over.
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
FOUR MORE! Quiney gets an outside edge and it races past Peirson for another boundary! 7/139, 18.3 overs gone.
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
SIX! Hold on here folks, Rob Quiney, who hasn't been able to lay a splinter of wood on the ball all innings, decides to launch Flintoff down long off for six!
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
Quiney tries the slog sweep but he discovers it's hard to do with one and a half legs. Vettori completes his four overs with figures of 1-28. The Stars are 7/128 off 18 overs. It's all over now. Flintoff charges in for his fourth over.