New Delhi: The Big Bash League, Australia’s biggest T20 cricket carnival, is back with its 13th season, with 8 teams fighting it out for the next 48 days for the ultimate silverware, i.e., the BBL trophy.
The first match of the season was played between last year’s runner-ups, Brisbane Heat and Melbourne Stars, on Thursday, December 7 at The Gabba Stadium in Brisbane.
As expected, the first game of the tournament was an interesting one, with the hosts getting one over the visitors to register their biggest victory in BBL history by the margin of runs, i.e., 103 runs.
The best of his 14 boundaries 😍 pic.twitter.com/aL9EqCoqLn
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 7, 2023
As it happened
The Melbourne Stars skipper Glenn Maxwell won the toss and opted to field first.
The Heats started their innings on a strong note by adding 66 runs for the first wicket before skipper Usman Khawaja (28) was dismissed by the opposition skipper Glenn Maxwell.
Shot, Uz 👑#BBL13 pic.twitter.com/n93ctW8kdD
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 7, 2023
Colin Munro (99*), then took charge of the batting by adding 82 runs for the second wicket with Marnus Labuschagne (30), 45 runs for the third wicket with Sam Billings (18) and 21 runs not-out partnership with Max Bryant (15*), to take the Heat’s innings to a massive total of 214 for 3 in 20 overs.
99* 👏
All class, Colin. @HeatBBL #BBL13 pic.twitter.com/OFQlz7Bok3
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 7, 2023
Joel Paris, Glenn Maxwell and Nathan Coulter-Nile took one wicket each in bowling.
In reply, the Stars lost two wickets in the very first over, reducing themselves to 6 for 2.
Superb use of the review by the Heat and they have their first in the first over! #BBL13 pic.twitter.com/lU00U7eUVq
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 7, 2023
Joe Burns (22) and Glenn Maxwell (23) tried to revive the innings but were dismissed after adding 43 runs for the third wicket.
Switch-hit timed beautifully but straight to the fielder!
Swepson gets the huge wicket of Maxwell #BBL13 pic.twitter.com/bEDjvxFzxU
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 7, 2023
Hilton Cartwright (33) played some hand shots, but it was not enough, as Stars kept losing wickets at regular intervals, to get all-out on 111, giving the Heats a massive victory by 103 runs.
Marnus the multi-tasker! ⭐#BBL13 pic.twitter.com/WxDdoEUWX2
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 7, 2023
Mitchell Swepson was the most successful bowler for the Heats with 3 wickets, Michael Neser and Xavier Bartlett took 2 wickets each, while Spencer Johnson, Matthew Kuhnemann and Paul Walter, also got 1 wicket each under their belt.
