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The Heat smashed 3/115 after rain delays throughout the first innings but it was just the start as under Duckworth Lewis Stern, the Stars had to chase 129 to win.

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The Heat then put in one of the best fielding performances you will ever see to claim the win by 19 runs as the Stars could only muster 6/110.

The Stars’ Andre Fletcher couldn’t get going but finally got a four away when he hit Mujeeb Ur Rahman down the ground for a four that wasn’t took convincing before he got under the next one.

But it gave Mark Steketee the chance to get under it and he took the catch on the boundary before flicking it back in to Bartlett to complete the catch.

“What a catch, the double play from the Brisbane Heat, Steketee, Bartlett, that is one of the best catches you’ll see this tournament,” Isa Guha said.

WHAT A CATCH!

Mark Steketee & Xavier Bartlett complete the double-play, and that’s the end of the Spiceman #BBL10 pic.twitter.com/gE7CQBCZNY

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 7, 2021

It was just the beginning though with Lewis Gregory catching out the Stars’ Nicholas Pooran slammed 16 runs in four ball before a top edge went all the way out to Lewis Gregory on the boundary.

It was swirling in the sky and Gregory took a diving stunner that would have been hard enough to just take as a regulation catch.

“That is an unbelievable catch, I thought it was getting away from him, he’s hung on an absolute ripper,” Mike Hussey said.

“You can’t underestimate how difficult a catch this is from Lewis Gregory,” he added later.

Another elite catch!!

It’s allllll happening on the Gold Coast #BBL10 pic.twitter.com/UPGBlASnQc

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 7, 2021

A contentious call almost saw Max Bryant pull off a piece of fielding brilliance when he was deemed to have touched the other side of the rope before he passed it to a teammate.

But a matter of balls later, he pulled off one of the best pieces of fielding seen.

Nick Larkin smashed a ball to the cow corner boundary and Bryant waited before diving backwards, taking the one handed catch and throwing it back in the field of play.

“Oh, what a save,” Mike Hussey raved as Isa Guha and Andrew Symonds tried to find the words.

“That was a screamer, oh my God,” Guha added.

“I saw Nicholas Pooran do this in the IPL and this is almost as good,” Hussey said. “Great bit of fielding.”

UNBELIEVABLE from Max Bryant!

This could be the best fielding game we’ve ever seen!! #BBL10 pic.twitter.com/QoSBB1blxE

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 7, 2021

Bryant just went back to his position and pretended like he’d been there before.

“That is brilliant,” Hussey said. “That is unbelievable.”

Guha said: “Steph Curry, Michael Jordan, eat your heart out. I still can’t get over that fielding.”

“One of the best bits of fielding we’ve ever seen in the Big Bash,” Hussey said with Symonds agreeing the entire performance had been spectacular.

Post-match, Hussey was still raving. 

“That Max Bryant’s save, that one that saved the six, I think that is the best save I’ve seen ever in the history of the Big Bash,” he said. 

The match finished just before midnight local time and 1am in states observing daylight savings but some fans were still able to get in as well.

When did the Heat become the best catching team in cricket history? #BBL

— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) January 7, 2021

Phenomenal stuff from Bryant

— Daniel Cherny 📰 (@DanielCherny) January 7, 2021

It goes along with Jordan Silk’s “Superman” save from earlier in the BBL as well.

Heat skipper Chris Lynn was in awe of the insane catching display.

“Throughout the tournament we’ve been quite disappointing with our fielding. It was exceptional but for us, that’s the standard we’ve got to set for every game,” he said.

“They were tough catches. I tell you what – I didn’t want to be under them.”

But despite the exceptional fielding, Larkin almost got the Stars home, slamming 35 not out off 16 balls but needing 23 off the last over, Seb Gotch was stuck on strike and used up three balls as the Stars missed out by 19 runs.

It was an incredible finish to a match that appeared destined to be washed out.

Earlier, Chris Lynn hit 48 off 23 balls with four fours before he was bowled off the first ball following the second restart after a rain delay.

It set up the innings with Max Bryant’s 31 off 23 and Joe Burns hitting 22 not out off 11 balls.

Although still on top of the table despite Wednesday night’s 86-run loss to the Perth Scorchers at Optus Stadium, they looked far from champions as they collapsed to be all out for 97 chasing 184 for victory.

It was their lowest-ever total against the Scorchers and their third lowest in all BBL games.

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Opener Jack Edwards put up the only resistance, hitting 44 runs from 38 balls.

The loss was also the Sydneysiders second in three outings, beaten by the Brisbane Heat by four wickets last week.

Adding to the Sixers woes was the groin injury sustained by leading wicket-taker Ben Dwarshuis while they were in the field.

FORCED CHANGE

The Sixers were forced to call on X-factor Lloyd Pope at the half-way mark of the Scorchers innings due to the Dwarshuis injury.

The change appeared to be a blessing in disguise after Pope removed the dangerous Colin Munro in his first over, but not before the New Zealander hit his second consecutive half-century.

The leg spinner had figures of 2-13 after his second over, also removing Jason Roy.

But with Dwarshuis sitting in the stands injured, the Sixers were searching for options during Perth’s two-over power-surge and at the final stages of the Scorchers innings.

BRUTAL MARSH

On the back of some tight bowling from Steve O’Keefe, the Scorchers scratched their way to just 1-26 in the first four-over power-play.

They lost Liam Livingstone for 16 in that period. While Roy lasted until the 14th over, he added just 27 from 31 balls.

His wicket brought Mitch Marsh to the crease and he had no issues finding the middle of his bat.

His unbeaten 57 from 27 balls included seven boundaries and two sixes.

The Scorchers added 84 in the six overs that he was at the crease, including 0-30 in their power surge.

GAME ON

The Sixers could have cemented their place on top of the table with a win over the Scorchers after the Sydney Thunder and Hobart Hurricanes, placed second and third respectively, lost earlier in the week.

The Scorchers move into sixth place after a third consecutive victory. The competition tightened significantly in the past couple of days with the Brisbane Heat and Melbourne Stars also notching wins.

Only the Melbourne Renegades currently look incapable of challenging.

NO POINT

The Sixers remain on top of the table because they can usually snatch a Bash Boost bonus points, even in games they lose.

Wednesday was first time they failed to leave a game this season without a point.

The chase of just 72 from their first 10 overs started poorly when Josh Philippe went for just five in the second over. James Vince followed in the next over without scoring.

Neither Jordan Silk, nor Dan Christian managed to score and the Sixers slumped to 6-58 at the half-way mark of their innings.

Perth claimed a bonus point for just the second time.

And with Andrew Tye finding form with figures of 4-20 from three overs and Jhye Richardson starring with 3-15 also, they are starting to look dangerous.

In trouble at 4-72 after 11 overs, Weatherald joined Gibson, who had yet to face a delivery, at the crease and after steadying the ship, they smashed 62 from the final four overs as the Strikers’ posted their highest score of the season, 5-171.

Long-time opener Weatherald – pushed down the order to No. 6 after making a quickfire 34 at No. 5 against the Sixers on Sunday – cracked 51 from only 25 deliveries, with four sixes.

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Former New South Wales first-class batsman Gibson, who is in Adelaide trying to gain a Redbacks contract, scored a classy, unbeaten 43 from 31 balls in a partnership that changed the momentum of the match.

The Renegades, who had lost six consecutive games and were without key batsmen Shaun Marsh (personal reasons) and Rilee Rossouw (hamstring), were always on the back foot in their run chase after captain Aaron Finch was unluckily dismissed on the first ball of their innings.

Just two days after being run out at the non-striker’s end against the Scorchers when paceman Jason Behrendorff got a hand to a Marsh drive, Finch edged a leg glance through to a diving Alex Carey behind the stumps off Harry Conway’s first ball in BBL10.

Carey took another spectacular catch later in the innings when he ran backwards towards fine leg to haul in a skied ball from Mackenzie Harvey (34) as the Renegades lost their last nine wickets for just 44 to be bowled out for 111.

English spinner Danny Briggs was the pick of the Strikers bowlers with 2-17 from four overs while pacemen Wes Agar and Peter Siddle each captured three wickets.

Adelaide’s convincing victory snapped consecutive seven-wicket defeats to the Scorchers and Sixers and squared its win-loss record at 4-4.

LACK OF SALT

Hard-hitting Englishman Phil Salt’s troubles at the top of the batting order for the Strikers continued against the Renegades.

Salt was out for eight in the fourth over after pulling a Kane Richardson delivery straight down Beau Webster’s throat at deep mid-wicket.

It was Salt’s fifth single-figure score in eight innings in BBL10 and third on the trot.

After making 51 against the Perth Scorchers last Monday, Salt has made only 13 in his past three knocks.

He has scored 131 in eight innings for the campaign at a disappointing average of 16.

RENEGADES’ TRIPLE TREAT

The Strikers’ lost their way with the bat by losing three wickets for four runs in 10 balls in the 10th and 11th overs.

Matt Renshaw (35), Jon Wells (2) and captain Alex Carey (24) fell in quick succession to Mohammad Nabi and Imad Wasim as the score quickly went from 1-68 to 4-72.

All three were caught close to the boundary with undisciplined shots.

COSTLY MISS

Finch was a deadeye dick with his trusty left arm in the field except when it really mattered.

He hit the target with his first two throws at the stumps, including one from side-on, but both times the Strikers’ batsmen had made their ground at the non-striker’s end.

But when Finch found Gibson well short of his ground in the 18th over with the score on 4/129, his side-on throw from mid-off missed by the narrowest of margins.

It was a costly miss as Gibson powered his way to an unbeaten 43 as the home side finished its innings strongly.

The 32-year-old old went on an all-time rampage against the Portland Trail Blazers, with 62 points and eight threes as he monstered the side.

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Arguably one of the greatest shooters in NBA history, Curry went nuts as he claimed the career high tally, finishing with 18 from 31 from the field and eight from 16 from three.

It was the 10th 30-point half of his career.

After the game, Curry hit back at the criticism he and his team have been copping with a sensational reminder of how good he actually is.

“Cue the Jordan meme, right?” Curry said during a postgame video conference with reporters. “I take all that personally.

“It was just an opportunity to assert my will on the game early and try to create some energy and get off on the right foot. As crazy as it sounds after the game, all we really wanted to do was win the first quarter and take it from there.

“We’ve got a winning spirit, we’ve just to work out how to do it consistently and against the good teams in the league.”

It’s a reference to Michael Jordan in The Last Dance.

The only downside of the incredible night was that his franchise record 80 straight free throws, dating back to March 29, 2019 was broken in the first quarter with coach Steve Kerr having some fun.

“And then he just choked. It’s just incredible,” cracked coach Steve Kerr.

But when speaking about the achievement of his 62 points, Kerr was blown away.

“We’ve seen Steph do so many things here over the years, so many amazing nights at Oracle and now here at Chase. It’s just a privilege to coach him, it really is,” he said.

He wasn’t the only one as Twitter blew up with the praise.

“A career high 62 points for Steph Curry! STILL proving he’s the greatest shooter we’ve ever seen and a MVP candidate along with LeBron, AD, KD, Kyrie, Luka Doncic, Kawhi, and Giannis,” Magic Johnson wrote.

KYRIE HITS BACK AS NETS SLAMMED

Kyrie Irving has hit back at talk of a disconnect between himself and fellow superstar Kevin Durant after missing a clutch play to lose 123-122 to the Washington Wizards.

Thomas Bryant stuffed the go-ahead dunk with 14.9 seconds left but neither Durant or Irving could hit the winner in the final possession.

Asked about the disconnect between the bench and the players after Irving took it into his own hands to call a time-out with 7:35 remaining, the star hit back.

“Disconnect? I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he snapped. “This is basketball. It’s pretty simple.”

Durant said he didn’t notice the issue.

“I didn’t even see that,” Durant said. “But Steve knows when to call time-outs. He knows what he’s doing over there. We all trust him. He’s only going to get more comfortable as time goes on.”

Bradley Beal led the Wizards with 27 points and 10 rebounds.

Irving, who led all scorers with 30 points, missed a three-pointer with less than six seconds remaining. Brooklyn corralled the rebound, but Durant’s last-gasp effort also missed.

“We’ve got two of the best players ever to touch a basketball on the other side, so it’s a tough task, man, but I think we did an excellent job of accepting that challenge,” Beal said of the Wizards defence.

Russell Westbrook finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds for the Wizards.

— with AFP

The New Zealand pitch curators have delivered some green demons with the ball swinging all over the place.

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After two green pitches saw the Black Caps punish the West Indies by an innings in each of their two Test matches, Pakistan at least put up a bit more of a fight before going down by 101 runs in the first Test.

But day one of the second Test has unleashed another green monster at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

And it’s played tricks on the Pakistani batsman with two of the worst reviews you will ever see.

Opener Shan Masood lasted just eight balls before Tim Southee landed one on his toe.

From first view, the only thing that could have saved him was an inside edge as the full toss swung back in a mile.

“That is an absolute ripper from Tim Southee,” the commentator said.

The review turned out to be crazy with the bat well behind the pad as he fell over with the ball to hit middle stump.

The commentators didn’t take aim at the review but social media did.

Pakistan fought back however with Azhar Ali hitting 93 while Mohammad Rizwan hit 61 and Faheem Ashraf struck 48.

It was impressive with how crazy the ball was swinging around.

But Ashraf started a whole new debate when 203cm quick Kyle Jamieson was bunted to first slip off a clear outside edge.

While Pakistan dropped to 7/260 with the dismissal and he hit the ground at the same time, it was a massive deviation with the catch taken between first and second slip.

“Shan Masood has come competition for craziest review of the day,” the commentator said after the dismissal.

You could forgive Ashraf has he was the in batsman with bowlers to come but it was a pretty hopeful call.

Jamieson was the pick of the bowlers for the Kiwis with 5/69 from 21 overs as the Black Caps bowled Pakistan out for 297 just before stumps.

Tributes have been paid to “wonderful” Barry Austin who had a “heart of gold”.

The ex-cabbie, of Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham, once starred in Sky One documentary Inside Britain’s Fattest Man.

Barry at one point said he consumed up to 29,000 calories a day and drank up to 12 litres of fizzy drink in a day, swelling to 412kg.

Lifelong Birmingham City fan Barry later lost 127kg after health problems, slashing his daily calorie intake to 1500.

In recent years Barry was said to struggle with breathing issues and infections.

His partner’s heartbroken daughter Dannie Louise paid tribute to him on Facebook, posting: “Absolutely heartbroken is the only word I can say how I feel right about now.

“Rest in paradise to the big man of my life my dad Barry Grizzly Austin.

“I loved u like u was and its how we treated one another.

“You was the kinda dad that was always there no matter what. We had our ups and downs, but can honestly say I never loved u any different.

“Either way its gonna be hard to deal with u no longer being around.

“To see my mom the way she is – horrible. The whole family is just crumbled.”

Barry, who used to drink up to 40 pints of beer and bottles of spirits on a night out, was known as ‘Fat Baz’ and had his own column in a lad’s mag.

He was said to have shed 127kg stone back in April 2012 as he prepared to marry his then finance Debbie Kirby, 50, from Solihull, West Midlands.

Footie fan Barry even had his own custom-built chair at Birmingham City’s ground in 1997.

A spokesman for Birmingham City tweeted: “We are saddened to hear of the passing of lifelong Bluenose Barry Austin.

“His love for Blues was unquestionable. May you rest in peace, Baz.”

One City fan wrote: “RIP big Barry Austin. Sad news to kick the year off. KRO lad, fly high.”

Wolves’ fan Twitter page The Wolfpack hailed him as “a wonderful man with a heart of gold”.

In 2012, Barry got down on one knee to propose to his fiancee Debbie, saying: “I’ll feel like the luckiest man in the world to call Debbie my wife.”

Debbie said: “Barry’s still a big lad — but it’s what’s on the inside that matters. For me it’s all about personality.”

This story originally appeared on The Sun and has been republished with permission

James Cummings won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic two years ago with Exhilarates, who was purchased the year before by Godolphin boss Vin Cox out of the MM January sale.

But the bulk of the Cummings horses are homebreds, meaning they need to secure a wildcard in order to compete on Magic Millions Day.

Two years ago Manicure won the Nudgee Stakes to qualify for MM day, before running second in the $1M F & M race on the Gold Coast.

Then last year Isaurian earned his place, only to be nudged out by Madam Rouge in the MM Snippets.

Roheryn has already qualified for Godolphin by winning the Falvelon last week and Saturday Phaistos (Shoot Out), Hilo (The Buffering) and Athiri (Nudgee) get their chance, with Nash Rawiller aboard all three.

Rawiller has only had a handful of Queensland rides in recent years, with his last winner in the state coming on Moriarty back in May of 2014.

Hilo and Athiri only arrived in Brisbane this week, while Phaistos has his second run here after running second to Get Stuck In over 2000m at Doomben a fortnight ago.

Glen Boss told Godolphin’s Nacim Dilmi after his run at Doomben it would help the five-year-old as he steps further up in distance to Saturday’s 2200m and if successful, the 2400m on MM day.

From what Dilmi has seen in the fortnight since, he believes Phaistos is now ready to prove himself over the middle distances.

“The way he’s been working since his last run, he really feels like a stayer,” Dilmi said.

“I galloped him last Saturday and he gave me that feel and then on Tuesday I had to shake him up, he dead set feels like a two miler the way he’s settling.

“I think the step up in distance and Eagle Farm will really suit him.”

Athiri is a rejuvenated mare in the past four months, living up to the promise she showed as a juvenile, where she was sent out a $2.20 favourite against Bivouac once

“Athiri arrived Thursday morning and she’s really well placed,” Dilmi said.

LORD ALMIGHTY THIS TIME AROUND

Which Desert Lord will turn up in The Buffering at Eagle Farm?

Jockey Ryan Maloney has no doubt if it’s the same one who trounced his rivals at his first run for the David Vandyke stable three starts back, he will take a power of beating.

Maloney teamed with Desert Lord at Eagle Farm on August 29, where he came from the back of the field in a Class 6 Plate and rounded his rivals up in a few strides to win as he liked.

Yet at his next start, Desert Lord was more one-paced under Maloney and wound up third to The Harrovian when sent out a $1.70 chance, meeting the North Queensland champ at level weights that day.

He has since turned in a tradesman-like win, albeit after racing wide, at Doomben where Steph Thornton did the steering in another set weights Class 6 Plate.

Maloney jumps back aboard Desert Lord on Saturday, as Thornton switches to last year’s Buffering winner Deep Image.

“The way he picked them up that day (first up), if he brings that kind of form, he’s definitely a big chance in this race,” Maloney said.

“Second up he wanted to over-race a touch, whereas he didn’t touch the bridle at all in that first up win.

“Whether that big fresh win just took away some of his brilliance for the next run, I’m not sure, but he came out and won again after that.

“The key for me is that David seems very happy with him. He said he has jumped out really smart since that win and when David is prepared to spruik them like that, you really take notice.”

Desert Lord, like a number of Buffering runners, is trying to secure a wildcard into the Magic Millions Cup (1400m) on January 16.

Vandyke also has Baccarat Baby, where he has added the blinkers in a bid to just spark a little bit extra from the mare, who hasn’t won since October 2019.

Maloney missed last Saturday’s Eagle Farm meeting after hurting a knee at trackwork, but rode a winner at Doomben on Wednesday after wearing a brace on the knee. He is counting down the days to the Magic Millions Guineas, where he rides the hotpot Isotope.

In her absence from Saturday’s Vo Rogue Plate, Maloney has picked up the ride on her stablemate Starosa, which looks one of the chances in a very open race.

The pair slugged it out but the 31-year-old Ioka showed just why he is the champ having won in an eighth round TKO as he knocked Tanaka out on his feet.

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Tanaka had been knocked down twice before in the fifth and sixth round but a massive left hook left the challenger in la la land as Ioka defended his title for the second time.

Both men came into the fight as world title winners at multiple weights with the 25-year-old Tanaka fighting to become the fastest fighter to win four weight divisions have held the WBO mini-flyweight title from 2015 to 2016, the WBO junior-flyweight title from 2016 to 2017 and the WBO flyweight title.

Incredibly, he still has seven more fights to beat Oscar de la Hoya’s record but his 15-0 record now has its first loss.

Tanaka was a massive favourite in the fight but despite both men copping punishment, it was Ioka who withstood best, with three brutal knockdowns from left hooks giving him the belt.

Ioka for the knockout was at 6-1 odds according to Fox boxing reporter Mike Ortega which was stunning for the defending champ.

Ioka has trod the ground ahead of Tanaka, having won the mini-flyweight, light-flyweight, flyweight and super flyweight titles.

It appeared an even fight to start off with both men dishing out punishment, but late in the fifth, Ioka hit Tanaka with a right before coming over the top with what the commentator called “a picture perfect” left hook that floored the challenger.

In the sixth, another left hook left Tanaka on the canvas again as he went looking for the KO as Ioka smelled blood.

With his back against the wall, Tanaka came out swinging to finish the round.

He swung until the end with Ioka waiting for the right time before his left knock Tanaka out only to be caught by the referee.

Social media was impressed by both men as the slugged out the fight.

In the co-main event on the tight card, Daigo Higa claimed a fifth round KO against Yuki Strong Kobayashi.

As the former flyweight champion, Higa is attempting to comeback at bantamweight has his victory will place the division on notice as he savagely dispatched Kobayashi.

Higa was throwing bombs from the outset as he landed some huge uppercuts in the third round to take control of the fight.

The uppercuts kept going with Kobayashi’s legs giving out as he collapsed.

Although he tried to get to his feet, blood poured from his nose and his corner rushed to his aid and treated him on the canvas.

“As brutal an uppercut knockout as you’re going to see,” the commentator said.

Chasing 151 for victory on Wednesday evening, the Heat found themselves needing two runs from the final delivery to secure a win.

Hurricanes paceman Scott Boland delivered a low full toss, which Mark Steketee slapped into the covers and promptly sprinted through for a quick single.

It was stopped by South African international Colin Ingram, who struck the wickets at the non-striker’s end with a direct hit.

The decision went upstairs to the third umpire, and replays showed that Steketee’s bat had bounced as the stumps were dismantled.

The untimely bounce meant Steketee had been run out, and the Hurricanes had secured a nailbiting one-run victory.

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A chorus of boos echoed around the Gabba when the verdict appeared on the big screen and the baffled Hobart players celebrated in the middle.

“I spent the last two minutes trying to slow my heart rate and take a lot of deep breaths, because that was pretty extraordinary finish,” Hurricanes captain Peter Handscomb said on Fox Cricket after the match.

“To defend (15 runs) off those last two overs was pretty bloody awesome.

“I thought (Steketee) was in, didn’t know the bat was up in the air. But once we saw the replays, we were pretty happy.”

Former Australian Test bowler Trent Copeland tweeted: “Unbelievable run out to finish! Cracking game of cricket. BBL is delivering! Anyone can beat anyone. Last over finishes so often.”

Women’s T20 World Cup champion Megan Schutt posted: “Crazy good game of cricket.”

READ MORE: Veteran’s 4188-day first in dream return

Heat newcomer James Bazley finished with 49 not out off 31 balls, his classy knock featuring four boundaries and three sixes.

Hurricanes speedster Riley Meredith was the chief destroyer with the ball, claiming 3/21 from four overs.

He was supported by former Australian paceman Scott Boland, who only conceded 18 runs from his four-over spell.

Earlier, Afghan tweaker Mujeeb Ur Rahman claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in the T20 format to help restrict the Hurricanes to 150.

For their next fixture, Hobart will take on the Melbourne Stars at Blundstone Arena on Saturday afternoon.

SCROLL DOWN FOR SIXERS V RENEGADES

The English marauder put the Stars to the sword, blasting an incredible 21-ball half century that eclipsed the Thunder mark set by Daniel Sams (23 balls) only this month as the Thunder rattled up a monstrous 7/219 — just four short of the competition record set by Hobart Hurricanes in 2017.

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When Hales departed with the score at 89 in the eighth over, he had 71 of the Thunder’s runs from just 29 balls — opening partner Usman Khawaja labouring at the other end with 15 off 15.

The eight fours and five sixes gave Hales a strike rate of better than 244.

Hales faced two balls from part-timer Nic Maddinson — one that soared over the Bob Hawke Stand and out of Manuka Oval — “That’s gone 150m, that’s massive,” Seven commentator Brad Hodge said — the next going straight up in the air and sending him on his way after what was one of the most destructive batting performances in Big Bash history.

Stars leggie Adam Zampa copped particular treatment from Hales, going for 26 off two overs.

“Absolutely sensational, so strong, he’s a big guy, so imposing at the crease and he hits so well down the ground — he targeted Adam Zampa, the Stars’ best bowler … just destroyed him,” Fox Cricket’s Mike Hussey said.

It’s been an interesting start to the BBL10 season for the second-leading run scorer in BBL09 (576 runs at 146 strike rate). He kicked off with a less explosive 46 off 41 against the Stars, before back-to-back golden ducks and then 35 off 21 in his last outing, before Tuesday night’s fireworks.

Zampa did fightback, grabbing a trio of wickets to finish with 3/49, but it was too little to late as Khawaja (37 off 31) and captain Callum Ferguson (51 off 37) picked up where Hales left off. A late Ben Cutting flurry of 20 of just seven balls helped the Thunder pass their previous record score.

It was always going to be a monumental task for the Stars who were dealt a huge blow on the final ball of the power play when Marcus Stoinis fell for a swift 27.

They were still a chance with Glenn Maxwell at the crease, but that ended when the Big Show — who became the fourth player in BBL history to score 2000 runs when he hit Daniel Sams over mid-wicket for six — was brilliantly caught in the deep by Adam Milne for 23.

Despite X-Factor sub Ben Dunk clubbing three consecutive sixes off Chris Green, his slowies proved irresistable, netting him 4-34 off four overs as the Stars succumbed for 144 — a 75-run loss.

CHIN UP

It turns out cricketers are just like athletes from every other spot — they do not enjoy being subbed off. Stars bowler Lance Morris was clearly unimpressed when he was replaced under the new rule by Dunk, having bowled just one over.

Melbourne coach David Hussey tried to console him, but Morris was pretty keen to get away from him and off the field.

“It’s a team game. It’s okay to be disappointed, but you can’t show it like that,” Andrew Symonds said in commentary.

“You’ve got to keep your chest up and your lip in and just get on with the game. That can be bad for morale if you take things badly like that. It’s sad to see. There’s no point carrying on because it creates an awkward moment.”

Hussey conceded it was a tough situation to navigate.

“It’s very difficult, but it’s one of those things that’s best for the team. Lance is a ripping guy and he understands it beautifully,” he said.

SPIN TWINS

While the batsmen will get all the credit for the victory, it was the Thunder’s spinners who proved the difference on an otherwise difficult night for bowlers in Canberra. Chris Green had his best game of the tournament with figures of 4-34, while Tanveer Sangha was miserly, claiming 2-17 from his four overs to choke the Stars out of the contest.

SILVER LINING FOR STARS

Already focussed on the next job, skipper Glenn Maxwell has indicated gun all-rounder Marcus Stoinis is on track to resume bowling.

Stoinis hasn’t bowled since he limped off the SCG on November 27 with a side injury during Australia’s ODI win over India.

It’s unlikely he will bowl on Saturday when the Stars take on the Hobart Hurricanes, but Maxwell is confident his close mate will be good to go in early 2021.

“I think he’s only a couple of bowls off,” Maxwell said.

“I don’t know how long that’s going to be, but hopefully that’s only one or two weeks. It’d be nice to have him. He’s not only a brilliant T20 batter and a fielder, he’s extremely handy with the ball and can bowl at any stage of the game for us.

“It’d be nice to have his services with the ball.

Bowling has been a big problem for the Stars, who have conceded 413 runs in their past two games and lack a medium-pace bowler who can hit the deck hard.

An injury to fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile in the recent loss to the Sydney Sixers hasn’t helped their cause, heaping more pressure on their players to nail their roles.

“Not having Stoinis bowling at the moment probably doesn’t give us that balance in the top order where you can have a couple of batters that bowl,” he said.

“To have that balance in our team is probably something that we’re missing at the moment which means we have to go with specialist bowlers to set up our 20 overs. Unfortunately, that leaves our batting a little bit light.”

WILL’S WOE AS SIXERS PULL OFF THRILLER

Another night, another BBL loss for the Melbourne Renegades as 21-year-old Will Sutherland had a horror night with the ball, the Sydney Sixers claiming victory off the penultimate ball.

Chasing the Gade’s 6-168, the Sixers needed 16 off the last over.

Already plundered for 41 — including a horror no-ball that didn’t hit the cut stuff — Sutherland was entrusted by captain Aaron Finch to bowl the last.

It didn’t go well.

After a dot first ball and a nice yorker that was dug out by towering West Indian Jason Holder for 2, things were looking up.

But, with mid-off up, two full wide ones were dispatched over his head in consecutive balls for four to make it six required off the last two balls.

Mid-off went back, but wasn’t required, Holder taking him on and hitting it over his head for six to finish the match with one ball to spare.

Mic’d up Finch joked on the commentary that he wouldn’t bowl the last over as he’d “tried that before” — referencing the clash with Perth Scorchers in BBL06 when he took a wicket and had a run out and then got clubbed for six by Ashton Agar off the last ball to surrender the match.

Maybe he should have.

Poor Sutherland had nowhere to hide, finishing with 1-57 off 3.5 as Holder raced to 33 off 18 balls and the Sixers took victory.

Holder said he had not hit the ball as he would have liked early in his innings but knew he had to stay alive.

“I knew if I was there at the end I’d give myself a chance — I was just two hits away from bringing the game back within our grasp,” Holder said.

“I try to keep a level head, keep it simple and execute.

“Credit to the Renegades bowlers, I thought they bowled well to that point, they were always in the hunt with 16 required (from the last over) but it was my day today and it was good to get another win.”

Holder’s work undid Kane Richardson’s (2-21) double-wicket effort in the penultimate over, after young gun Josh Philippe set up the chase with 48 off 30 balls at the top of the order.

But the Barbadian had some words of encouragement for the young bowler he’d just taken down.

“It’s just about execution in the end, and I guess I got the better of him today,” Holder said of the 21-year-old.

“But I understand, he’s a youngster and it happens in cricket. When you’re entrusted to bowl the last overs – the big overs of games – these things happen, so my encouragement for him is to keep his head up.

“Trust me, you have those days and he’ll have a few more of them, but the thing is just to (remember) the percentages – these are the tough situations to bowl in and these things are going to happen, and sometimes it goes for you and sometimes it goes against you.

“You have to keep learning and he will definitely learn from this experience, and I give him all my support.”

A fourth consecutive loss left the Renegades anchored near the bottom of the ladder, just ahead of the winless Perth Scorchers.

CATCHES WIN MATCHES

The Renegades needed everything to go right if they were to post just their second win of the season.

But they failed to hold their catches early, Imad Wasim dropping Philippe for four in the second over, with the opener going on to make 48 from 30 balls – including five consecutive boundaries in the fourth over – to set up the Sixers’ victory.

“You can’t afford to drop good players, they hurt you,” Renegades captain Aaron Finch told Fox Sports. “We dropped him (off) a relatively easy chance (on Tuesday night) and he hurt us the last over of the power play.”

Rilee Rossouw’s juggling effort to dismiss Jordan Silk in the 18th over though was a turning point in the match.

HOLDER ON SONG

Jason Holder may be a bowling all-rounder but it was his power hitting that won the game for the Sixers.

The West Indies Test captain took a wicket in his bowling spell but was magnificent in the dying stages, holding his nerves as batting partners dropped around him to deliver a win for the Sixers in his final game of the BBL as he heads off on international duty.

His 33 off 18 balls included nerveless hitting and strong running that helped the Sixers to the top of the competition ladder.

STRONG SIGNS FOR OPENERS

Finch and Shaun Marsh forged their best partnership since Marsh joined the Renegades last season, making 75 for the opening wicket before Finch was dismissed from the last ball of the 10th over.

It’s a promising sign for the Renegades, who have capitulated twice this season chasing big totals and need to be able to rely on their big names performing under pressure.

Marsh’s 67 underpinned the Melbourne innings and while the 37-year-old tired running twos in the heavy Queensland humidity, his effort set up a competitive total for a team that has had trouble competing at all this season. His continued form will be key if the Renegades are to avoid another poor BBL finish.

‘I’LL BE BACK’: HOLDER

West Indian Test captain Holder has been hooked by his first taste of the Big Bash League and hopes to return to the competition next season.

Holder leaves Australia to return to the Caribbean on Wednesday after his thrilling effort for the Sixers.

While strict COVID-19 protocols have forced incoming international players into a mandatory 14-day quarantine that has kept some players away from the Twenty20 league, Holder was not deterred and has been thrilled with his first stint in the competition.

“For me it’s good to finish off on this note,” Holder said.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed BBL cricket and hopefully I can return in the future.”