BBL 2020-21: Match 2, STA vs HEA – A rare chase over Heat for the Stars, Coulter-Nile's record 4-wicket haul and more stats

Melbourne Stars started their campaign in BBL 2020-21 which a comfortable 6-wicket victory against the Brisbane Heat. A collective effort with the ball led by Nathan Coulter-Nile’s 4-wicket haul kept down the Heat to 125/10. Coulter-Nile gave away only 10 runs in the 3.5 overs bowled and also affected two run-outs. Stars struggled in the first half of their chase before Hilton Cartwright’s unbeaten 46 and Glenn Maxwell’s 26-ball 46 guided the team to a win with 17 balls to spare.

Here are all the statistical highlights from the 6-wicket win of the Stars during the STA vs HEA game:

A rare successful chase for Stars:

2014 – Only the second time in the BBL where Melbourne Stars have won chasing against the Brisbane Heat. They chased down the target of 145 for the loss of seven wickets in the 2013-14 season. Brisbane team successfully defended their total against the Stars on four occasions between the two run-chases.

A record 4-wicket haul for Coulter-Nile:

1 – Nathan Coulter-Nile registered his maiden 4-wicket haul in the Big Bash League and his 3rd in the T20 format. His bowling figures of 4/10 are now his best T20 figures and the 3rd best in the BBL by any player for the Stars. Lasith Malinga took 6/7 against Perth Scorchers in 2012-13 while Haris Rauf registered figures of 5/27 against Hobart Hurricanes in the previous edition.

2.61 – Nathan Coulter-Nile had an economy rate of 2.61 as he conceded only 10 runs in his 3.5 overs. This is the 3rd lowest economy for any player while picking up a 4-wicket haul in Big Bash League.

Lasith Malinga had an economy of 1.75 when he took a 6/7 bowling four overs for Stars against Scorchers while Alfonso Thomas took 4/8 in his 3.1 overs for Scorchers at an economy of 2.53 against Renegades; both during the 2012-13 BBL at the WACA ground.

4/10 – Coulter-Nile’s bowling figures of 4/10 are the best for any player in the BBL against the Brisbane Heat. The previous best bowling figures in the Big Bash League against the Brisbane franchise are recorded by Sean Abbott who took 4/11 for Sydney Sixers in the 2017-18 season.

Maxwell goes past Stoinis:

1748 – Glenn Maxwell is now the leading run-getter for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League by surpassing Marcus Stoinis’ tally of 1731 runs.

Wood stars with a wicket:

5 – Jack Wood became only the 5th player to pick a wicket with the first ball on Big Bash League debut. James Muirhead, Peter Siddle, Adil Rashid and Haris Rauf are the other players with this feat before Wood. In fact, Jack Wood is also the first player to pick a wicket with the first ball in the BBL for the Brisbane Heat team.