Left out of Australia’s limited-over squad for the tour of India, all-rounder Glenn Maxwell set the Big Bash League on fire by smashing 83* in just 45 deliveries to guide Melbourne Stars to a seven-wicket win over Melbourne Renegades on Friday.
Maxwell, who recently made a comeback to professional cricket following brief break to deal with mental health issues, hit seven sixes and one boundary as his side chased 169 in just 18.4 overs. And with that being done, Maxwell is now the second-highest run-scorer of the tournament behind his teammate Marcus Stoinis, having amazed 311 runs in eight games at a strike-rate of 169.94.
Okay, this is getting ridiculous.
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 10, 2020
Also, @RenegadesBBL, get that catcher out of the dugout and onto the green stuff! #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/LOx8xggSD6
Maxwell’s Melbourne Stars actually had a tough start to the game. Having won the toss and decided to bowl, they were duly punished by the likes of Shaun Marsh (63 off 43 deliveries) and Marcus Harris (42 off 32 deliveries), who played an opening partnership of 86 runs. Beau Webster added 25 in 15 deliveries and the middle order failed to keep the momentum going.
Renegades, by the end, somehow managed to stitch 168/5 in 20 overs. Coming in to bat, Stars’ Stoinis went out on a duck and Ben Dunk didn’t do anything noteworthy either. They were, in fact, 54/3 at one point of time, but Nick Larkin and Glenn Maxwell played a crucial partnership of 115 runs to guide their team to glory.
Just watching G.Maxwell on @FoxCricket i don’t think I’ve seen a batsmen hit the ball as hard since the great sir Vivian.#smashingem
— Mark Waugh (@juniorwaugh349) January 10, 2020
The win means Melbourne Stars have now won five games on a trout and sit two points clear of the second-placed Sydney Sixers.
Earlier this month, Chris Lynn had initiated a donation for the Australian bushfires by pledging $250 to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal for every six that he hits for the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League. And Maxwell, on his part, followed the suit by matching the same amount that Lynn pledged for each six.
His performance sent the cricket fans into a frenzy and this is how they are reacting to it:
Glenn Maxwell in Big Bash 2019-20:
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 10, 2020
83(39)
2(3)
43(25)
0*(0)
1(2)
40*(32)
59*(37)
83*(45)
- Second highest run-getter.
- Most sixes.#BBL09
Convince me Glenn Maxwell isn’t in Australia’s best white ball teams every single time. Go. #BBL09
— Theo Doropoulos (@TheoDrop) January 10, 2020
Glenn Maxwell was 42 not out from 32 balls and finished 83 not out from 45.
— Daniel Cherny 📰 (@DanielCherny) January 10, 2020
So 41 from 13.
Imagine being one of those people who don’t enjoy watching Glenn Maxwell play cricket and Nick Kyrgios play tennis 😂 What a boring life.
— Tim Rosen (@timrosen35) January 10, 2020
The treatment by national selectors towards Glenn Maxwell is disgusting. Genuine match winner. Defies belief that he doesn’t play all 3 forms #BBL09
— Luke (@Marruso89) January 10, 2020
Glenn Maxwell is a freak. #Fact #BBL2019 @StarsBBL
— Pawan Kumar (@itspawanhere) January 10, 2020
Glenn Maxwell ain’t called The Big Show for nothing! That was extraordinary entertainment. Haven’t seen as clean hitting as that since Gilly retired. #BBL09
— Cameron Bell (@CameronBell) January 10, 2020
Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @StarsBBL
