Munro knock shoots Heat past Stars in BBL opener

Colin Munro has bludgeoned traditional slow starters Brisbane Heat to a statement 103-run victory in the Big Bash League opener against Melbourne Stars.

The South African-born New Zealand opener slugged an unbeaten 99 off 61 balls in Thursday night’s season 13 launch at the Gabba.

He was denied a century when, after knocking a single, Max Bryant hit the final three balls of the Heat’s innings for four.

BBL journeyman Munro wasn’t fussed though, the Heat piling on 3-214 and then restricted Glenn Maxwell’s side to 111.

 Openers Colin Munro and Usman Khawaja got Brisbane off to a hot start to the BBL season. Image by Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS 

Michael Neser, deemed fit after being ruled out of the Prime Minister’s XI clash with soreness, took two first-over wickets to leave the Stars on the ropes.

World Cup hero Maxwell (23 off 14) briefly threatened another miracle innings before he found a fielder with a reverse sweep off Mitchell Swepson (3-23).

Matthew Kuhnemann then picked up dangerman Marcus Stoinis, Joe Burns followed and the Stars were 5-54 in the eighth over.

Hilton Cartwright (33 off 16) hit three huge sixes but there was little else to write home about for the Stars.

The Heat have historically battled early in BBL seasons before finishing with a flourish.

Last year they scrambled to make the finals, then surged from fifth to come within a whisker of heavyweights Perth Scorchers in the decider.

They looked sharp on Thursday though despite missing regulars Matt Renshaw, Jimmy Peirson and Nathan McSweeney to representative duty in Canberra.

Last season’s cult hero opener Josh Brown, fresh off a 42-ball century in a Heat practice match a week ago, couldn’t be squeezed into the 14-man match squad.

Munro and Khawaja (28 off 19) showed why they belonged at the top in a slick start, putting on 63 in the first six overs.

Munro took a liking to Maxwell’s (1-44 off three overs) off-spin, taking 19 from his first over and then slamming a straight six off the back foot when he returned.

Tom Rogers dropped a diving effort in the deep and Munro, on 58 at the time, rubbed salt in by hitting Maxwell’s next delivery for six.

 Tom Rogers dropped Colin Munro in the deep, the Heat opener going on to make an unbeaten 99. Image by Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS 

The Heat’s bowlers and fielders then held up their end of the deal, Sam Harper out LBW after a successful review and Rogers quickly following him.

Spinners Swepson and Kuhnemann held their nerve, Xavier Bartlett (2-8 from three overs) was typically tidy and Spencer Johnson bounced back from a 20-run first over to take a wicket with the first ball of his second.

Nathan Coulter-Nile (calf) then used a runner when he came out at No.11.