"It wasn't a pretty fifty but I found a way to be not out at the end, so it feels nice," says Chris Lynn. "We normally lose at home and win away, trying to turn it around this year."

If ever Chennai Super Kings, who have to finalise their player retention this week, were in two minds, tonight should be enough validation regarding Brendon McCullum. The Brisbane Heat captain knocked the stuffing out of Melbourne Stars in a bruising half-century to set up this chase. A target of 140 on a slightly slugging surface ought to have tested them, but the manner of that opening stand resulted in a rout that has left Stars winless after three matches. Lots of hard work lays ahead. As Pietersen summed it up, 'We can't be this poor.'

14.4

Beer to Lynn, FOUR runs

short ball angling away, has width needed to slap this over long-off. Brisbane Heat have decimated Melbourne Stars. As convincing as it can get

14.3

Beer to Burns, 1 run

punches this wide of mid-on for an easy single

14.2

Beer to Lynn, 1 run

eased with the spin to sweeper cover

14.1

•

Beer to Lynn, no run

helps this incoming length ball to short fine leg

end of over 148 runs

BH: 138/1CRR: 9.85 • RRR: 0.66

Chris Lynn58 (43b 6x4 3x6)

Joe Burns17 (11b 3x4)

Adam Zampa 4-0-28-0

Marcus Stoinis 2-0-30-0

13.6

Zampa to Lynn, 1 run

eased with the spin to sweeper cover for an easy single

13.5

Zampa to Burns, 1 run

rocks back and cuts to deep point

13.4

•

Zampa to Burns, no run

steps out to launch over long-on, gets a thick inside edge onto the pad.

13.3

Zampa to Burns, FOUR runs

down on one knee as he pulls this short delivery to the deep square leg boundary. Super shot

13.2

Zampa to Lynn, 1 run

drifting into middle and leg, tucked to deep midwicket

13.1

Zampa to Burns, 1 run

works this length ball on middle to deep midwicket

end of over 1320 runs

BH: 130/1CRR: 10.00 • RRR: 1.71

Chris Lynn56 (41b 6x4 3x6)

Joe Burns11 (7b 2x4)

Marcus Stoinis 2-0-30-0

James Faulkner 2-0-14-0

12.6

Stoinis to Lynn, FOUR runs

backs away and crashes this length ball outside off to the cover boundary. Does he want to hop out of Melbourne tonight itself? Looks like it. As a bowler, you'd think you didn't do much wrong. What improvisation

12.5

Stoinis to Lynn, FOUR runs

looks to slap this over mid-off but ends up getting a thick edge that flies wide of the keeper. Brings up his half-century. This is his slowest-ever BBL fifty Would you believe it?

12.4

•

Stoinis to Lynn, no run

mistimes an attempted slap to cover

12.3

Stoinis to Lynn, SIX runs

he's hit this to Gold Coast or what? He was waiting for this shot, sitting up nicely as he muscled this pull deep into the stands at midwicket. Massive

12.3

Stoinis to Lynn, 1 wide

backs away to slash, but this bounces over his head. Left alone

12.2

Stoinis to Burns, 1 run

steered to third man once again

12.1

Stoinis to Burns, FOUR runs

so easy on the eye. This is a length ball angling away, he hangs back, opens the bat face and steers this behind point, no chance for square third man

end of over 128 runs

BH: 110/1CRR: 9.16 • RRR: 4.00

Joe Burns6 (5b 1x4)

Chris Lynn42 (37b 4x4 2x6)

James Faulkner 2-0-14-0

Liam Bowe 2-0-21-1

11.6

Faulkner to Burns, 1 run

works this length ball on middle and leg to deep fine leg

11.5

Faulkner to Burns, FOUR runs

one bounce to the long-off boundary. Too full, he made room, got underneath the length and belted this away.

11.4

•

Faulkner to Burns, no run

right behind the line of this length ball as he defends

Win Probability

BH 100%

MSBH

100%50%100%

Over 15 • BH 144/1

Heat won by 9 wickets (with 32 balls remaining)

Match Coverage

All Match News

Continuity matters - the maturing of the Big Bash

Cohesion is important in team sport and results in the Big Bash have promoted the ideal of a largely settled side

McCullum, Lynn hand Stars third straight loss

The Bash Brothers finished the job but it was Brisbane Heat's spin twins - Mitchell Swepson and Yasir Shah - who laid the platform for Melbourne Stars' nine-wicket defeat

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Heat Innings

PLAYER NAME		R	B
CA Lynn	not out	63	46
BB McCullum	caught	61	30
JA Burns	not out	18	12
Extras	(b 1, w 1)
Total	144(1 wkt; 14.4 ovs)

PLAYER NAME	O	R	W	Econ
JP Faulkner	2	14	0	7
MA Beer	2.4	28	0	10.5
A Zampa	4	28	0	7
JW Hastings	2	22	0	11
MP Stoinis	2	30	0	15
L Bowe	2	21	1	10.5

WKT	RUNS	PLAYERS
1st	101	Brendon McCullum	Chris Lynn
2nd	43	Joe Burns	Chris Lynn

<1 / 3>

Big Bash League

TEAM	M	W	L	PT	NRR
PS	10	8	2	16	0.154
AS	10	7	3	14	0.801
MR	10	6	4	12	0.297
HH	10	5	5	10	-0.291
SS	10	4	6	8	0.331
ST	10	4	6	8	-0.039
BH	10	4	6	8	-0.437
MS	10	2	8	4	-0.926

Full Table