Brisbane opener Colin Munro has been left stranded on 99 as the Heat posted its second-highest team total in Big Bash League history on Thursday evening.
The New Zealander guided the hosts towards 3-214 at the Gabba, smacking the Melbourne Stars bowlers to all corners of the iconic venue.
Munro watched the final three deliveries from the non-striker’s end as Heat teammate Max Bryant slapped a trio of boundaries, prompting some boos from the Brisbane crowd.
“A few boos around,” former England captain Michael Vaughan said on Fox Cricket commentary.
Munro’s unbeaten 99 (61) was the third-highest score by a Heat player in BBL history.
MATCH CENTRE: Brisbane Heat vs Melbourne Stars live scorecard
Earlier, Heat captain Usman Khawaja was dropped in the first over of Thursday evening’s Big Bash League contest against the Melbourne Stars at the Gabba.
Khawaja, who was on 2 at the time, slashed England seamer Olly Stone towards point, where Tom Rogers put down a tough chance.
Unfortunately, the Queenslander couldn’t make the most of the reprieve, slapping a length delivery from World Cup hero Glenn Maxwell directly towards deep mid-wicket for 28.
Soon after, Munro brought up his half-century in 33 deliveries, reaching the minor milestone with a six down the ground.
Rogers’ evening went from bad to worse in the eleventh over, spilling a low chance at deep mid-wicket to gift Munro an extra life on 58.
Munro combined with Marnus Labuschagne for an 82-run partnership for the second wicket before left-armed seamer Joel Paris broke the stand, with Marcus Stoinis pouching a low catch at cow corner to remove the Australian Test star for 30.
England wicketkeeper Sam Billings clobbered 18 before falling victim to Nathan Coulter-Nile, with Bryant (15 not out from seven balls) providing some late fireworks.
The Melbourne Stars won the bat flip and elected to bowl first against the Heat at the Gabba.
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Brisbane Heat XI
Colin Munro, Usman Khawaja (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Sam Billings (wk), Max Bryant, Paul Walter, Michael Neser, Xavier Bartlett, Spencer Johnson, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Kuhnemann
Melbourne Stars XI
Tom Rogers, Sam Harper (wk), Joe Burns, Glenn Maxwell (c), Marcus Stoinis, Hilton Cartwright, Liam Dawson, Usama Mir, Joel Paris, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Olly Stone
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