Big Bash League: Glenn Maxwell smashes Record 154 as Melbourne Stars Thrash Hobart Hurricanes

Glenn Maxwell displayed an exhibition of power-hitting that cemented his reputation as ‘The Big Show.’ His 154 was a record-high individual score in the history of the Big Bash League. The partnership of 132 with Marcus Stoinis, who smashed 75 off 31 balls helped Melbourne Stars reach a record 273/2. The Hobart Hurricanes, in response, went only 13 runs better than Maxwell’s individual score. They lost by 106 runs but it made no difference to their fortunes. Melbourne Stars joined their cross-town rivals Renegades in not making it to the playoffs. Hobart Hurricanes, on the other hand, will play the Eliminator.

Hobart Hurricanes chose to field and nothing went right for them. Maxwell immediately blasted a six and a four off D’Arcy Short and he followed it up with four boundaries off Sandeep Lamichhane. Melbourne Stars were boosted by Maxwell’s fifty coming off 20 balls as 79 runs were scored in the powerplay.

Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis put on a show

Joe Clarke hit a six and four off Josh Kann but he fell for 35 off 18 balls. Maxwell inched closer to his century with two fours off Mitchell Owen as well as a six and four off Short. Maxwell notched up his century off just 41 balls and it was the second-fastest for the Melbourne Stars skipper. It came on his 100^th BBL game and the occasion was simply magnificent. Although the Stars lost Nick Larkin cheaply, the stage was set for the Stoinis-Maxwell show.

Read – Glenn Maxwell continues to be haunted by Amit Mishra

Maxwell hit two fours and a six off Owen. Stoinis immediately set the stage on fire with three sixes off Tim David. The carnage continued with Maxwell smashing five consecutive boundaries off Sandeep Lamichhane to ensure he had the highest score in BBL history.

Stoinis then hit Josh Kann for two sixes and a four to bring up his fifty off 23 balls. Both batsmen ended the innings with a flourish as Melbourne Stars notched up the highest score in the BBL.

Hobart Hurricanes shell-shocked

In response, the Hurricanes innings barely got going. Caleb Jewell and Jordan Thompson failed to get big scores. Ben McDermott, who has been the star for the Hobart Hurricanes, kept the fight going with a brilliant fifty. His two sixes of Beau Webster were simply magnificent. When Matthew Wade fell cheaply, the writing was on the wall.

McDermott reached his fifty off 29 balls but once he fell to Brody Crouch, Hobart Hurricanes gave up. D’Arcy Short and Peter Handscomb both struggled to get going as the asking rate mounted. Short, in particular, struggled for the big hits. In the end, the 106-run victory was a good way for the Stars to sign off. Maxwell, speaking after the match, hoped that the team had done enough to ensure fans supported them.

ONE OF THE GREATEST T20 INNINGS OF ALL TIME ?

Glenn Maxwell tumbles records in an insane knock ?#BBL11 pic.twitter.com/XFWV6KyBAL

— CricWick (@CricWick) January 19, 2022

“It has been a tough season and not gone according to plan. But hopefully we have done enough to bring people back to support this franchise next season,” Maxwell said. The playoff line-up has now been finalized. Hobart Hurricanes will play Adelaide Strikers in the Eliminator. The winner will play Sydney Thunder in the next Eliminator. Perth Scorchers will play Sydney Sixers for a spot in the final.