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Glenn Maxwell has belted an unbeaten 83 to lead the Melbourne Stars to a seven-wicket win over the Melbourne Renegades at Marvel Stadium.
As the ball disappeared to all parts of Marvel Stadium, Glenn Maxwell would have appeared anything but serene to the hapless Melbourne Renegades.
But the Stars skipper credits a new-found inner peace for helping him to bludgeon a match-winning 83 runs, including seven sixes, in Friday night's seven-wicket win over the defending champions.
Needing six runs to win with nine balls remaining, Maxwell finished the contest in fine style, belting stand-in skipper Dan Christian over the fence.
In their first meeting at the venue since last season's final, the Renegades made 7-168 after being sent in, Shaun Marsh top-scoring with 63.
The Stars were struggling at 3-54 in reply before the masterful Maxwell blasted an unbeaten 83 from 45 balls, to help his side to a 7-1 record at the top of the table and consign the Renegades to a dismal 0-8.
It was Maxwell's third half-century of a BBL season that marked his return to cricket after a break to concentrate on his mental health.
"Being mentally fresh before the tournament ... I had no baggage coming in," Maxwell replied when asked why he feels he's been in such good form.
"I think back to the break I had and I'm so thankful that Cricket Australia and all the powers that were able to grant me that break to get myself right because I think I'm starting to see the benefits now.
"I've got no demons in my head. I've been able to get everything off my chest and be able to deal with things better.
"I'm still talking to people about managing different parts of my life to make sure that I have that balance.
"It's nice to be a bit more relaxed when I'm batting. I don't have anything going on in the back of my mind, I don't have any of these other thoughts.
"It's been nice and calm out there."
Both line-ups were shuffled for the clash with Renegades Aaron Finch and Kane Richardson and Stars Peter Handscomb and Adam Zampa departing for the Australian ODI tour of India.
Maxwell, a 110-ODI veteran, would usually have been on the plane with them, but he understands why he wasn't given his disappointing showing at last year's World Cup.
"(The selectors) were probably right; my World Cup wasn't good enough," he said.
"I'll just keep trying to do as well as I can for the Stars and keep leading them to wins."
