BH vs MS | Twitter impressed as Bryant and Bartlett power Heat to thrilling win against Stars
Brisbane Heat beat Melbourne Stars by four wickets in a Big Bash League match at the Gabba in Brisbane on Friday. Max Bryant and Xavier Bartlett added an unbeaten 66 runs for the seventh wicket to power the home side to an unlikely win in a thrilling contest, and moved to fourth in the points table.
After being put into bat at the Gabba, the Melbourne-based outfit got off to a quick start with opening duo of Sam Harper and Thomas Rogers hitting three boundaries in a 16-run over off Jack Wildermuth first up. Harper (37) was the aggressor as he welcomed Xavier Bartlett with a six and a four before hitting two more boundaries in his next. Though the visitors ended the mandatory four-over powerplay at 47/0, the Heat bowlers came back into the contest with the wickets of both openers, while conceding just 13 runs in the next three overs. But captain Marcus Stoinis and Campbell Kellaway brought back some momentum for the visitors with their third wicket stand. Kellaway was quick off the blocks with back-to-back boundaries off Oli Patterson before smashing four boundaries off Wildermuth to take the side past the 100-run mark in the 11th over. But the batting side once again conceded the advantage, throwing away four wickets and making just 37 runs in the next six overs. But an unbeaten 58-run partnership between Hilton Cartwright (26) and Blake Macdonald for the seventh wicket took them to a formidable total of 195/6. Macdonald had four fours and two sixes in his unbeaten cameo of 37 off just 12 balls, while Stoinis was their top scorer with a 35-ball 43. Meanwhile, Thomas Balkin was the pick among the Heat bowlers with a spell of 2/35 in four overs, with all other bowlers but Wildermuth picking up a wicket each.
The chase did not start on a promising note as the hosts lost both openers cheaply inside five overs with the score reading just 34. However, captain Nathan McSweeney and Matt Renshaw repaired the innings with a stand of 69 runs in 47 balls to keep them in the hunt. McSweeney had five fours and a six during his knock of 43 off 31 balls, while Renshaw hit four boundaries and a six in his 27-ball 41. But the home side also endured a similar collapse, slipping from 103/2 to 133/6 in the space of just 23 balls, losing both set batters in the process. With 76 runs to get in the last five overs and five wickets in hand, it looked like the Stars would extend their winning streak to five games, but Bryant had other plans. He smashed four sixes and three boundaries to hit an unbeaten 48 off 26 balls, while Bartlett played the supporting role to perfection with a valuable cameo. The pacer had a six and two boundaries in his nine-ball 21 as the pair took the Heat to an improbable win with their 25-ball assault. The hosts went past the Stars total to finish at 199/6 with two balls to spare, with Peter Siddle and Mitchell Swepson ending with two wickets for the visitors.
Thriller!
MAX BRYANT!
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 2, 2026
Can you believe it? The Brisbane Heat have won another thriller at The Gabba 🔥 #BBL15 pic.twitter.com/3ffcxaHAPs
On pressure!
That's pressure. #BBL15 pic.twitter.com/PjxPkEArTw
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 2, 2026
It's happening!
Mad Max 😱
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 2, 2026
It's happening again at The Gabba! #BBL15 pic.twitter.com/566fGDPK45
Again!
They've done it again. #BBL15 pic.twitter.com/IYc8W7HOMp
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 2, 2026
Yes!
Bartlett has been good with the bat than with the ball this season#bbl15
— 🔁 (@Tutterdotcom) January 2, 2026
Thriller!
"Here we go." 👀
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 2, 2026
This ain't over yet. #BBL15 pic.twitter.com/39rpw8ojGO
Why!
Seeing Tom Curran get smacked makes me so happy #bbl15
— YJB lad (@CaptainRex94) January 2, 2026
He is done!
Yeah Glenn Maxwell is done....
— One Movie After Another. (@patrikbateman62) January 2, 2026
Gone!
Never change Glenn Maxwell #BBL15
— Bhekinkosi (@BlaccSlimshady) January 2, 2026
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