Stars defeated in BBL|13 opener

Fresh off a spectacular World Cup campaign for Australia, skipper Glenn Maxwell was a sight for sore eyes for Stars fans, with the BBL|13 opener marking his first appearance for the club since BBL|11 after missing last season due to a broken leg. 

Maxwell won the bat-flip and elected to bowl, handing the new ball to English quick Olly Stone, who was one of four bowlers to play their first game for the club in Queensland. 

Overseas spin duo Usama Mir and Liam Dawson both featured through the middle overs of the innings, while Joel Paris picked up the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne as he made his first appearance in green.

Veteran seamer Nathan Coulter-Nile joined Maxwell as the other wicket takers for the Stars, with the Heat posting a formidable score of 3/214. 

After losing Sam Harper and Tom Rogers early, Joe Burns (22) combined with Maxwell (23) to put on a 43-run stand with bat in hand, before Hilton Cartwright opted to take the power-surge immediately after the drinks break. 

The powerful Western Australian adopted an aggressive approach as he blasted back-to-back sixes off the bowling of Michael Neser, providing a quickfire 33 from just 16 deliveries, including two boundaries and three maximums at a monster strike rate of 206.25. 

The required target proved too much for the Stars to track down as they fell victim to losing regular wickets throughout the innings, being dismissed for 111 in the 16th over.

The Stars will host the Perth Scorchers in their first home outing of BBL|13 at the MCG on Wednesday.