Glenn Maxwell takes greatest BBL catch ever as Melbourne Stars beat Brisbane Heat

Glenn Maxwell etched himself into BBL folklore when he took one of the greatest catches in the competition’s history as the Stars stunned Brisbane Heat at the Gabba. WATCH THE CATCH

Short format big guns Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis have kept the Melbourne Stars’ BBL finals hopes alive by snapping an eight-game losing streak and 0-5 start to the season with a handful of magic moments at the Gabba.

The Australian T20 stars delivered highlights aplenty, Maxwell in the field and Stoinis with the bat, to hand reigning premiers the Brisbane Heat their third successive loss and second straight at home by way of a five-wicket victory.

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Maxwell was the talk of the town early when he took a rip snorter of a catch to dismiss Jack Prestwidge in Brisbane’s batting innings. Chasing 150 to win, captain Stoinis put on his cape and clawed the cellar dwellers back from 3-14 to 3-134 with four overs remaining.

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Marcus Stoinis powered the Stars home with the bat. Picture: Getty Images

Stoinis (62, 48 balls) led the charge to begin before No.4 Dan Lawrence took the baton and poured on an unbeaten 64 from just 38 deliveries to draw first blood on the Stars season.

Max Bryant (77 not out) and Xavier Bartlett (4-8) starred with bat and ball for the home side but a telling 132-run stand between Lawrence and Stoinis quickly took centre stage as the Heat’s premiership defence took another backward step.

STARS STORM OUT OF THE GATES

Earlier, former Brisbane Heat fast bowler Mark Steketee had powered the Stars onto the front foot to have the Heat reeling at 4-39 almost ten overs in.

Right arm fast Steketee took two quick wickets, with the white ball causing all sorts of trouble for struggling opener Colin Munro and big Tom Banton who were sent packing for one and 13 respectively.

The swing bowling of left armer Joel Paris and 40-year-old veteran Peter Siddle also yielded wickets as the Heat struggled to get going.

The Stars’ scorching hot start was eclipsed by Siddle’s first ball that speared into the middle stump to remove Brisbane’s most reliable batter so far this season, Nathan McSweeney (nine).

The aggressive field placements of new captain Marcus Stoinis also played its part in mounting pressure.

First slip Glenn Maxwell took two good catches after Stoinis won the toss and elected to field. Then came a Maxwell masterpiece.

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Glenn Maxwell etched himself into BBL folklore when he took one of the greatest catches in the competition’s 14-year history.

Maxwell urged Fox Sports commentator Mark Howard to say it was the greatest catch he had ever witnessed. And for good reason.

Reminiscent of NBA great Lebron James alley-ooping to himself off the backboard before slamming it home, Maxwell propelled himself over the boundary rope off one foot, caught the ball in his right hand, under armed it back in field and made the catch that removed Jack Prestwidge for four runs.

Glenn Maxwell etched himself into BBL folklore. Picture. FOX Sports

Glenn Maxwell’s catch was reminiscent of NBA great Lebron James alley-ooping to himself off the backboard. Picture. FOX Sports

After he caught the ball in his right hand, Maxwell under armed it back in field. Picture. FOX Sports

Glenn Maxwell completed the catch in the field of play and immediately entered the discussion for greatest BBL catch of all time. Picture. FOX Sports

It was simply stunning and No.7 Prestwidge had every right to think he had made enough contact for the ball to sail over the boundary.

Not on Maxwell’s watch.

“Unbelievable. We have seen some incredible stuff this summer but that is the catch of the year. Maxwell, like Lebron James, flying through the air, flicks it back and takes something that only Glenn Maxwell could do.” Howard exclaimed in commentary.

“I don’t think I have ever seen a better catch than that.”

“That’s genius, it really is,” Michael Vaughan added.

It was in the realm of Jordan Silk’s mid-on screamer taken off Brett Lee’s bowling a decade ago.

BRYANT BLITZ

Gold Coast product Max Bryant was at his six-hitting best for Brisbane, scoring runs for fun at the back end of the first innings to catapult his side to a defendable total of 149.

The 25-year-old middle order bat from the Valley club belted six sixes and four fours after entering the fray with Brisbane 3-33. Bryant turned the Heat up big time with Steketee and Siddle feeling the brunt of his power hitting.

With an unbeaten 77 off just 48 balls, Bryant transformed a shaky start where Brisbane looked doomed at 5-68 into a winnable position defending 7-149 after 20 overs.

Big Paul Walter (21) had a quick, highlight-laden cameo but it was the Bryant show that mesmerised more than 25000 fans at a time his team desperately needed someone to step up.

His half century came after being dropped on 33 by a diving Steketee at mid-on and it was brought up with a stunning six hit that encapsulated his fearless mindset.

Enter Stars super-sub Lawrence, the English international, who made a startling return as a replacement player for Tom Curran (calf).

Originally published as Glenn Maxwell takes greatest BBL catch ever as Melbourne Stars beat Brisbane Heat