Stars stay unbeaten with last-over win

Melbourne Stars 7 for 149 (Wright 37, Wade 33, Hopes 3-23) beat Brisbane Heat 7 for 144 (Christian 68*, Malinga 2-21, Bird 2-25) by three wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Melbourne Stars romped to their sixth consecutive win in the Big Bash League with a three-wicket win against the Brisbane Heat, who are second from bottom in the table. Two wickets each and economical spells from Jackson Bird and Lasith Malinga restricted the Heat to 144 and scores in the 30s from Luke Wright and Matthew Wade meant the visitors won with two balls to spare.

The Heat lost their openers Craig Kieswetter and Luke Pomersbach within 20 deliveries after opting to bat and Peter Forrest, too, two overs later to find themselves 36 for 3 after six overs. Daniel Christian steered the ship to safety with a fifty even though wickets kept tumbling at the other end. Malinga was the sixth bowler to be used and removed James Hopes and Ben Cutting to keep them within 150, despite an unbeaten 68 off 48 from Christian.

Cameron White and Wright got the Stars off to a flier, like they did in their last match, scoring 47 in five overs before White fell for 17. Wright and Wade put on another 37 but James Hopes got rid of Wright and Brad Hodge in consecutive overs. The Stars now needed 63 from 52.

David Hussey reduced the gap with a six and a four but he was also dismissed by Hopes. A set Wade then fell in the next over and they needed 30 from three overs. Rob Quiney hit a six and a four in the 18th over to reduce the equation to 15 from 12 but the Heat sent him and Marcus Stoinis back within four deliveries. John Hastings finally wrapped things up with a six on the leg side and Hopes' spell of 3 for 23 went in vain.