‘Building nicely’: ‘Old-school’ Chris Lynn returns despite Brisbane Heat’s Big Bash loss to Melbourne Stars

Brisbane Heat couldn’t hold off the Melbourne Stars but captain Jimmy Peirson liked what he saw from his biggest star.

Brisbane Heat batsman Chris Lynn produced a whirlwind innings against the Melbourne Stars in a losing cause. Picture: Getty Images

The re-emergence of “old-school Chris Lynn” was the silver lining in Brisbane Heat’s 20-run BBL loss to the Melbourne Stars.

That’s Heat skipper Jimmy Peirson’s view after he saw telling signs in Lynn’s 34-ball innings of 57 that the Heat’s greatest run-scorer was returning to his best.

After scoring only 82 runs in the opening five games, Lynn regained his mojo with a cameo that included a towering 106m pull shot off Brody Couch that crashed into the big screen, way beyond the mid-wicket boundary.

It was one of five sixes Lynn struck in a partnership with Ben Duckett (55) that gave the Heat a glimmer of hope of chasing down the Stars’ impressive 9-207.

It was Lynn’s all-round game and mature approach that caught Peirson’s eye in a knock he will need to replicate if the Heat is to challenge for the finals.

“I thought he batted with a bit of responsibility as well; took the game a little bit deeper and got himself to the power surge like we planned and was able to do some damage,” Peirson said.

Brisbane Heat captain Jimmy Peirson (left) saw signs of the old Chris Lynn in his swashbuckling innings against the Melbourne Stars. Picture: AAP

“He is thinking about his cricket and building nicely to what will hopefully be some good form.

“I saw a shot early, where he cleared his front leg and drop-kicked it up towards the scoreboard. It was old-school ‘Lynny’. That is how he bats at the Gabba.

“When he is thinking about his game, he is playing the two sides (of the field). You’ll notice he ran some twos on the big side and then he targeted the short boundary. That is when you know ‘Lynny’ is on.”

Earlier, the Heat’s bowlers were pummelled as Stars heroes Hilton Cartwright (79) and Joe Clarke (85) notched a BBL best-ever fourth-wicket stand of 151.

Heat bowler Liam Guthrie’s figures of 2-70 will go down as the most expensive spell in BBL history.

He wasn’t alone in being walloped by the Stars duo, and Peirson took some of the blame while stating his faith in Guthrie’s abilities.

“It is tough, isn’t it? The quicks have the hard job bowling to the short end and a couple of set batsmen got a hold of him,” Peirson said.

Heat master-blaster Chris Lynn was in attack mode against the Melbourne Stars on Monday night. Getty Images

“I could have gone to a spinner at the short end, and that probably didn’t help the cause. It was just a tough night. I think you will get those sometimes at the Gabba. A lot of bowlers talk about the graveyard here.

“He is new to the Big Bash this year, from Western Australia.

“I actually think he has bowled quite well throughout the tournament, but tonight wasn’t his night. It is important to get around him and make sure he is confident in his abilities.”

The Heat picked up a Bash Boost point courtesy of Lynn and Duckett to move to nine points on the BBL ladder, one point behind the fourth-placed Stars, ahead of away games against the Sydney Sixers and Hobart Hurricanes in the next four days.

“There are a couple of people who probably aren’t lifting their weight, me included, so it is really important we find our form,” Peirson said.

“If we can get a couple of wins on the trot, it is funny what can happen. We saw it last year in the finals for us.”

Originally published as ‘Building nicely’: ‘Old-school’ Chris Lynn returns despite Brisbane Heat’s Big Bash loss to Melbourne Stars