Big Bash: Glenn Maxwell scores 83 from 39 balls for Melbourne Stars in win over Brisbane Heat

After spending the morning following Masters champion Adam Scott at the Australian PGA, Glenn Maxwell then produced his own masterclass in guiding Melbourne Stars to a Big Bash victory.

The Stars’ Glenn Maxwell made an impressive return. PictureL Getty Images

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Glenn Maxwell made a stunning return from his mental health break on Friday night as the Melbourne Stars inflicted more Big Bash misery on the Brisbane Heat.

In his first elite match in nearly two months, Maxwell blasted 83 from 39 balls at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast to lead the Stars to a 22-run win against the battling Heat.

English import Tom Banton did his best to give the Heat a shot at victory with a sizzling 64 from 36 balls, but it wasn’t enough as Brisbane finished 8-145 in reply to Melbourne’s 7-167.

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Maxwell was in incredible touch on the Gold Coast.

The Heat have lost their opening two matches of the BBL and face going into Christmas without a win if they can’t topple the Sixers in Sydney on Sunday.

Maxwell spent the morning following Masters champion Adam Scott at the Australian PGA and taking a break from the game to focus on his mental health has set him up for a huge summer after being dropped from Australia’s ODI setup.

Maxwell went for $2.2 million in Thursday’s Indian Premier League auction and proved he was worth every dollar with a typically classy T20 knock that included five sixes and seven fours.

After sending the Stars in to bat, the Heat had few answers for Maxwell’s brilliance as the international superstar sent short balls sailing into the stands and full deliveries to the boundary with his repertoire of trick shots.

Maxwell came in with the Stars sitting precariously at 3-56 and departed in the final over after guiding his team to a competitive 7-167.

Maxwell gave the Heat a half-chance to get him out early when he was dropped by a flying Ben Laughlin in the deep for 12 but was faultless from then on.

The Stars’ next best with the bat was Peter Handscomb with 20 (15), proving how crucial Maxwell’s knock was to Melbourne winning their opening match of the tournament despite missing South African star Dale Steyn.

It was the Glenn Maxwell of old on Friday night.

Tom Banton gave the Heat some hope with a big knock.

In reply, the Heat were cruising with Banton at the crease, the big-hitting Englishman blasting four sixes, including a huge 102m maximum that nearly sailed out of the stadium.

Australia spinner Adam Zampa (3-30) pulled the Stars back into the contest, picking up the key wickets of Chris Lynn (six) and Banton, who got greedy and was caught in the deep to leave the Heat at 3-81.

Matt Renshaw was the only other Heat batsman to show any genuine resistance, compiling a calm 39 from 30 balls before departing in the penultimate over, Brisbane eventually finishing 8-145.

Lynn has had a poor start to the BBL with the bat, holing out in the deep for six after falling for nine against the Thunder on Tuesday night.

The Heat will fly to Sydney on Saturday ahead of their match against the Sixers at the SCG on Sunday.