The opening fixture of the Big Bash season got off to a flyer at the Gabba but it was a New Zealand batsman who stole the show, while a potential injury to an Aussie showman may add salt to the wounds of the defeated Stars.
Heat skipper Usman Khawaja and opening partner Colin Munro attacked the Stars bowling from the jump, posting an unbeaten 43 off the new four-over power play.
New Zealand right-hander Munro kept his explosive display up and catapulted the home side to 214, contributing an unbeaten 99*.
The hottest name in world cricket over the last month has been Glenn Maxwell and fans sat up in their seats as the eccentric Stars captain came to the crease.
It wasn’t enough as the Stars chase never really got going, their highest contributor Cartwright with 33 and they only lasted 15 overs.
The Melbourne side crumbled under disciplined bowling from the Heat, spinners Swepson and Kuhneman bowling brilliantly to walk away with a comfortable opening match victory.
Kiwi opener stranded on 99*
New Zealand opening batsman Colin Munro exploded with 99 (61) in a powerful knock to get the home side off to a fast start.
Munro had been in ripping form across the International T20 franchises and continued that striking in the Big Bash opening fixture.
The explosive left-hander was left just one run shy of triple figures and could not get the strike off Bryant in the final over.
He targeted straight down the ground and delivered a Munro masterclass.
Big Show battles elbow injury
All eyes were on Maxwell as he strolled out to the crease, earlier than perhaps expected, at the second over.
Michael Neser took two wickets in the first over to dismiss Harper and Rogers cheaply.
The Big Show’s World Cup heroics need no repeating but the electric Stars captain struggled with a minor elbow complaint.
Maxwell looked in pain and the Melbourne side’s physios attended to him out in the middle.
The physio wrapped the captain’s right arm in tape but it was not enough.
He could not muster up another legendary innings, Swepson dismissed the Big Show for 23 (13) in the sixth over of the chase.
‘Played to perfection’
Heat were dominant with the bat and took that skillful display into their efforts with the ball.
Kuhnemann and Swepson executed the game plan perfectly, bowling slow spin into the pitch which forced Maxwell to beat the fielders defending the switch hit and reverse sweep.
Swepson dismissed former test opener Joe Burns as well with a quicker, straight one that rattled the stumps.
The two spinners finished with figures of 1-17 (Kuhneman) and 2-23 (Swepson).
The Heat will next travel to Adelaide to battle the strikers on December 9 and the Stars will host the reigning champions Perth Scorchers at the MCG on December 13.
