BBL 2016/17: Top 5 moments from the Brisbane Heat - Melbourne Stars match

A lacklustre display with bat and ball by Melbourne Stars saw them losing out to Brisbane Heat by 7 seven wickets in the clash between the table-toppers at the MCG. Luke Wright’s spirited innings had guided the Stars to a fighting total of 138 after Steketee had struck with the first two balls of the game. But the score turned out to be rather low for a line-up like the Brisbane Heat.

Heat had a wobbly start as Peirson and Reardon departed quickly. However, Sam Heazlett upped the ante for Brisbane before falling to Gulbis with the score on 65. Burns, skippering the side in the absence of Brendon McCullum, who was fined for a slow over-rate, joined forces with a settled Alex Ross. The pair out on an unbeaten 74 run stand and steered the Brisbane Heat side to the top of the standings in the Big Bash.

Brief Scores:

Melbourne Stars 138/7 in 20 overs (Luke Wright 60, Swepson 2/14) lost to Brisbane Heat 139/3 in 18.1 overs (Alex Ross 46, Joe Burns 42)

Result: Brisbane Heat won by 7 wickets

Man of the Match: Mitchell Swepson

Have a glance at 5 key moments from the game at the MCG.

#5 Steketee's birthday bumper

Mark Steketee was in fine form

Mark Steketee celebrated his birthday with two wickets off the first two balls of the game. The 23-year-old fast medium bowler sent down a wide off the first ball but quickly corrected his line to dismiss Quiney.

A good length delivery outside the off stump forced Quiney to reach out for it only to chop it onto his stumps. In walked Kevin Pietersen, who has had a great season thus far. But the former England batsman missed a flick a ball that seamed in and was caught in front for a golden duck.

An ecstatic Steketee celebrated gleefully as he had two big batsmen off the first two balls of the game. Steketee finished with impressive figures of 4-0-20-2.

#4 Mitchell Swepson justifies Test call-up

Swepson: Full of potential

When Australia announced their Test team for India, there was a little-known leggie in the team, Mitchell Swepson. The Brisbane Heat wrist spinner was not expected to make the trip given that the Aussies had Fawad Ahmed and Adam Zampa at their disposal.

However, the selectors felt Swepson would do a better job as the fourth spinner in the side. Swepson justified that call with back to back wickets in his second over.

He had the debutant keeper, Seb Gotch, bowled with a wrong un that spun in and hit the middle stump. The very next ball Marcus Stoinis chopped a quickish leg break onto his stumps. Swepson bowled two more tight overs to finish with impressive figures of 4-0-14-2.

#3 The big changes

Peter Handscomb had to replace the effective Chris Lynn

It was a clash between table-toppers and demanded a lot of attention. However, there were some prominent names missing from both line-ups.

Peter Handscomb has been phenomenal for Australia in Tests of late and is a critical part of Melbourne Stars' line-up. However, an injury to Chris Lynn during the Pakistan-Australia ODIs meant Handscomb was called in as a replacement. The Stars had to replace their middle order batsman and wicket keeper with Seb Gotch, who scored a patient 30 walking in at 4.

Brisbane Heat had a big name missing as well, in the form their skipper, Brendon McCullum. The retired Kiwi skipper was fined for a slow over-rate and had to sit out the game. He was replaced by Marnus Labuschagne, who made his Big Bash debut. Joe Burns stood in as skipper.

#2 Luke Wright's mature innings

Luke Wright gave the Stars some hope

Luke Wright is known for his big hitting abilities and is considered a T20 specialist. The opener, however, had a different role to play after Steketee's opening burst that sent back his partner, Quiney and Kevin Pietersen.

Wright put a price on his wicket and worked around the bowlers while wickets kept tumbling around him. The first six of the innings came in the 15th over when Wright hit Cutting straight back over his head.

Wright went on to hit a half-century with a six, once again off Cutting and remained unbeaten 60 off 55 balls. He led the Stars to a total from which their bowlers could at least try to win.

#1 Ross and Burns ease the chase

Alex Ross continues to show promise

Alex Ross has been in good touch for the Brisbane Heat and he continued to underline his value - engaging in a 74 run stand with stand-in skipper, Joe Burns. Burns made 42 while Ross made 46.

Brisbane Heat were in a spot of bother at 65/3 when Ross and Burns joined hands. Zampa was bowling a tidy spell from one end while Boland and Hilfenhaus had a wicket a piece.

The duo was unperturbed and went about their business calmly. They were careful to not get out and concentrated on keeping the target within reach. The risk-free approach gave Stars no opening and they completed the chase in the 19th over, fairly comfortably.