3 minute read
Hilton Cartwright and Joe Clarke have combined for a record partnership that steered Melbourne Stars to 207 and an eventual 20-run win over the Heat.
Melbourne Stars broke records before seeing off a Chris Lynn rearguard to beat Brisbane Heat by 20 runs at the Gabba.
Chasing 208 for victory on Monday, the Heat were in the hunt with Lynn (57 off 34) and Ben Duckett (54 off 35) warming to the task.
They fell within two overs of each other though, Lynn's drilled off-drive picking out Andre Russell on the boundary and swiftly taking the wind out of the host's sails.
Earlier Liam Guthrie earned an unwanted Big Bash League honour as a record Joe Clarke and Hilton Cartwright partnership powered the Stars' brave fightback.
Heat bowler Guthrie's night started with the wicket of former Brisbane batter Joe Burns, the Stars also losing Marcus Stoinis (0) and Glenn Maxwell (2) to fall to 3-16.
Opener Clarke (85 off 44) wasn't bothered though and in Cartwright (79 off 44) found a willing partner, the pair combining for a fourth-wicket BBL record partnership of 151.
Cartwright was at his bruising best, a straight drive bringing up 50 off 31 balls as he finished with eight maximums and just one four in his highest BBL score.
Cartwright said that his innings was a product of some mentoring from Stoinis, who plays a middle order role for Australia and in the IPL.
"Rather than specific advice on how to play, it's more the mental side," he said.
"I know I can hit sixes and fours and do all that, but it's around how to approach if you have two overs left or 12 left.
"Because at times I've gotten really confused."
English recruit Clarke matched the former Test allrounder, a crisp clip over midwicket bringing up a 27-ball 50.
He hit a four and another huge six in a 20-run over, with Guthrie out of options as the pressure built on the hosts.
Without a sixth bowling option Guthrie returned to bowl his final over and was taken for 23 runs, bowling four wides and dismissing Cartwright with his final ball.
His 2-70 was still easily the most expensive spell in BBL history, beating Ben Dwarshuis's 0-61 against the Stars two years ago.
Brody Couch took two wickets in an eventful 12-run first over of the Heat chase, before Lynn and Duckett steadied the ship.
But Lynn's wicket triggered a collapse of 3-5, the Heat securing the Bash Boost point but still shunted down to sixth as the Stars moved from seventh to fourth.
Heat captain Jimmy Peirson was one of those, run out when his bat bounced and left him short despite it being over the crease.
"A lot of the responsibility has to rest on me, getting run out at the wrong time," he said of their promising run-chase.
"It wasn't a disaster, but the game was there to take and we didn't take it."
A hamstring injury kept Clarke off the field for the Heat's chase.
