Glenn Maxwell goes berserk but stunning BBL century slammed in vain

Glenn Maxwell played the best innings of his BBL career but there was another Big Show in town on Wednesday that stole his thunder.

Glenn Maxwell’s stunning knock was all in vain. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Glenn Maxwell unleashed with the bat to score his maiden Big Bash League century but it wasn't enough to prevent the Sydney Sixers from beating his Melbourne Stars on Wednesday night.

The Aussie all-rounder belted a mesmerising 103 from only 57 balls, propelling the Stars to 5/177 but Josh Philippe starred in the Sixers’ run chase, crunching an unbeaten 99 as the visitors reached their target with two balls to spare and seven wickets in hand.

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Coming to the crease at 2/6 in the third over, Maxwell almost single-handedly rescued his side form dire straits. Surviving a dropped catch at fine leg, he nailed 12 fours and three sixes at the MCG en route to his first ever BBL ton, raising his hands aloft upon reaching the milestone.

Nick Larkin and Hilton Cartwright both scored 23, the next best efforts among a Stars batting line-up that was contained by the spin of Steve O’Keefe (1/24 off four overs) and the variations of Chris Jordan (1/24 off four overs).

Maxwell went the bomb. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

During the innings break, Maxwell told Fox Cricket: “We lost two wickets early and the run rate wasn’t really going anywhere so we needed to take some risks and get the game moving.

“I got a little bit of luck but you need to take that in this game.

“What I was able to do was get a couple of easy boundaries off my hip and then they changed their plans to me.

“I thought if they had stuck over the stumps (there were) a couple more inconsistent areas and it might have been a bit tougher to score.

“Because they went away from their plans, I was able to cash in a bit on the wide stuff and when they bowled to my body, I was able to pick that up.”

Shane Warne was in awe. The Aussie legend tweeted: “That’s as good a T/20 innings as you will ever see. Absolutely brutal mixed with class! @Gmaxi_32 has to be in the top few players in the world currently playing T/20!”

He let out a lot of emotion after reaching triple figures. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

However, Philippe’s innings was just as destructive. The explosive opener needed just 61 balls to get within one run of his own century, blasting 11 fours and two sixes in the process.

Nathan Coulter-Nile (1/43 off four) and spinner Qais Ahmad (0/40 off 3.4) came in for some heavy punishment as Sixers captain Moises Henriques contributed a handy 29 off 20 balls, while Jordan Silk helped ice the game with 25 not out from 19 deliveries.

“Glenn put on a show, that was pretty special batting,” Henriques told Fox Cricket after the game.

“It seemed to be wherever the fielders weren’t he was hitting the ball and then Josh at the end basically replicated the same thing, whenever we needed a boundary he found a gap.

“It was pretty special to watch.”