HEA vs STA, Match 1 BBL 2023-24 Stats Review: Colin Munro's brilliance, Heat's feat and other stats

A solid batting from Colin Munro along with power-hitting from the finishers, followed by a clinical bowling display saw Brisbane Heatwin over Melbourne Stars by a margin of 103 runs in match number 1 of the Big Bash League 2023-24, at The Gabba, in Brisbane.

Early in the game, Melbourne Stars won the toss and elected to field first in the opening match of the 13th BBL season. The Heat got off to a strong start, with Usman Khawaja and Colin Munro putting together a 66-run partnership for the first wicket. Glenn Maxwell then broke the partnership by removing Khawaja for 28 runs. However, Munro continued to tick the scoreboard and built an 82-run partnership for the second wicket with Marnus Labuschagne.

Joel Paris provided the Stars with another breakthrough by dismissing Labuschagne for 30 runs. Munro reached a magnificent half-century and remained unbeaten on 99, his knock including nine fours and five sixes. A late cameo from Sam Billings (18 runs off 11 balls) and Max Bryant (15 runs off 7 balls) helped the Heat post a formidable total of 214/3 in their 20 overs.

In response to Brisbane Heat's imposing total of 214, Melbourne Stars lost their openers early in the chase. Joe Burns and Glenn Maxwell attempted to steady the innings, putting together a partnership of 43 runs. However, Maxwell's dismissal by Mitchell Swepson triggered a collapse, with Stars losing wickets at regular intervals.

Only Hilton Cartwright (33) and Joe Burns (22) could only manage to reach double figures as the rest of the batting lineup crumbled. Brisbane Heat eventually secured a comfortable 103-run victory. Colin Munro was deservedly named Player of the Match for his outstanding knock of 99 off 61 balls, remaining unbeaten to anchor the Heat's total

Meanwhile, here are some of the important stats and numbers from the 1st match of 13th BBL season, between Brisbane Heat and Melbourne Stars:

99* - Colin Munro's 99 is the third-highest score by a Brisbane Heat batter. The highest score for the Heat belongs to Luke Pomersbach, who smashed 112 runs off just 70 balls against the Melbourne Renegades at Melbourne's Docklands stadium, back in 2013, and Chris Lynn holds the second-highest score, reaching 101 runs from 51 balls against the Hobart Hurricanes at Brisbane in 2015.

1 - Colin Munro's 99 is the highest score by a Brisbane Heat batter against Melbourne Stars in BBL the Previous highest score was 90* by Matt Renshaw at Melbourne in 2023.

3 - Colin Munro has become the third batter to remain not out on 99 in the BBL. The first was Shaun Marsh, who achieved the feat against the Melbourne Renegades in 2011, followed by Josh Philippe, who did so against the Melbourne Stars in 2021.

2- Brisbane Heat's score of 214/3 against Melbourne Stars is their second-highest total in Big Bash history. Their highest total remains 224/5, which they achieved against the Sydney Sixers at Brisbane in 2023.

3- Brisbane Heat's 214/3 is the third-highest total ever scored against Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League (BBL). The highest total against the Stars remains 229/7, achieved by the Perth Scorchers at Melbourne in 2022. This is followed by Sydney Thunder's 219/7 against the Stars at Canberra in 2020.

2- Brisbane Heat's score of 214/3 is the second-highest total ever recorded at the Brisbane Cricket Ground in the Big Bash League. The highest total at the ground belongs to the Brisbane Heat themselves, who scored 224/5 against the Sydney Sixers in 2023. The third-highest total at the ground is 210/7, which was achieved by the Hobart Hurricanes against the Brisbane Heat in 2013.

11- Brisbane Heat's 214 is their 11th score of 200 or more in the BBL, the most by any team in the league. Hobart Hurricanes are second with 10, followed by Sydney Thunder with 8.

1-The 103-run victory against the Stars is the highest run margin win for the Heat in the BBL. Their previous highest win margin was 101 runs, achieved against the Melbourne Renegades, at Geelong,  in 2019.