Quiney, Maxwell bash subdues Hurricanes
The Melbourne Stars delivered a statement in their opening match of the tournament with a clinical nine-wicket win over the Hobart Hurricanes in Hobart
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Quiney was forced to bat in the lower-middle order for the Stars throughout last year's BBL campaign. The Stars finished as runners-up using Wright and Marcus Stoinis as openers for a majority of the tournament. Quiney, left out of Victoria's Sheffield Shield squad this season, has been playing club cricket and second XI cricket. He found some form in the Stars' practice matches and struck the ball powerfully against the Hurricanes. He was savage over the leg side off both pacers and the spinners. With Kevin Pietersen set to return after missing this game due to family commitments, Quiney reminded the Stars' selectors of his value at the top of the order.
The Hurricanes elected to bat, hoping to continue the momentum they found while setting a total in their tournament opener against Sydney Sixers. Teams batting first had won four straight games in the tournament after the Sixers won chasing in game one against the Sydmey Thunder. It seemed an anomaly given the team chasing won 20 of 35 matches in last year's Big Bash, including all three finals matches. The Stars went some way to squaring the ledger in BBL06 with a flawless chase.
Paine's 91 from 61 balls was his highest T20 score and his second consecutive half-century of the tournament, following his 63 in against the Sixers. He took his time early but stepped up through the middle over and scored fluently all around the ground. He and Bailey mixed superb stroke-play with excellent running in their record stand.
Hilfenhaus made the perfect start with the ball clattering the off stumps of both D'Arcy Short and Dom Michael with his first two balls of the match. Michael has now faced 10 balls in BBL cricket and has been dismissed four times without scoring a single run. Sangakkara walked out to face the hat-trick ball and could not have got friendlier delivery if he had pre-ordered it. Hilfenhaus delivered a full toss above waist-high wide outside off stump and Sangakkara caressed it through point for four. He also got a free hit next ball as it was a no-ball for height.
Alex Malcolm is a freelance writer based in Perth