MELBOURNE: Opening batter Jimmy Peirson’s swashbuckling half-century helped Brisbane Heat to make a victorious start to their Big Bash League (BBL) 2024 campaign with a resounding eight-wicket triumph over Melbourne Stars in the fourth match of the tournament here at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Wednesday.
Set to chase 163, the visitors comfortably knocked the winning runs for the loss of just two wickets and 11 balls to spare, thanks to Peirson, who top-scored with an unbeaten 72 off 56 deliveries, studded with five fours and two sixes.
The wicketkeeper batter was involved in two crucial partnerships for the Heat, including an unbeaten 78-run stand with Max Bryant, who scored a brisk 36 off 22 with the help of three fours and a six.
For the Stars, skipper Marcus Stoinis and Hamish McKenzie could pick up a wicket.
Put into bat first, the home side 162/6 in their allotted 20 overs despite wicketkeeper batter Sam Harper’s anchoring innings up the order.
Harper oversaw Stars’ batting expedition until 11th over and walked back after top-scoring with a 36-ball 46, which included four fours and a six.
He also shared an important 54-run partnership with opening batter Joe Clarke, who scored a 23-ball 32.
Following Harper’s dismissal, skipper Stoinis (26), Hilton Cartwright (15) and Beau Webster (28 not out) added valuable runs at the backend to push the Stars’ total past the 160-run mark.
Xavier Bartlett was the standout bowler for the Heat, picking up three wickets for 25 runs in his four overs, while Tom Whitney, Matthew Kuhnemann and Mitchell Swepson chipped in with a wicket apiece.
The eight-wicket victory put Heat to the second position in BBL 2024 standings with two points in one match, while the Stars sank to seventh with two defeats in as many matches.
