Marcus Stoinis smashed a stunning record-breaking century as the Melbourne Stars earned a comprehensive 44-run win over the Sydney Sixers in Sunday's table-topping clash. (More Cricket News)
Perhaps irked by his duck in the Melbourne derby against the Renegades two days ago, Stoinis carried his bat in a wonderful unbeaten 147 – the highest score ever in the Big Bash League.
Stoinis' effort blew the previous best – a 122 not out from D'Arcy Short – out of the water and the Stars were close to going through their entire 20 overs without a losing a wicket.
However, Hilton Cartwright (59) holed out to deep midwicket from the first ball of the final over as the Stars reached 219-1, marking the third highest score in the competition's history.
Still, the duo's stand of 207 also represented a record and, though the Sixers made a decent 175-7 in reply, in truth Stoinis' heroics meant the visitors were on a hiding to nothing at the MCG.
STOINIS PRODUCES 'I WAS THERE' PERFORMANCE
Stoinis' performance was so good that had you not seen it you might not have believed what was going on.
In total, there were eight sixes and 13 fours from 79 balls of utter excellence, Stoinis finishing in typically brilliant fashion with a hook over backward square leg off Sam Curran.
That came after a remarkable penultimate over in which Stoinis scored 24 runs off the luckless Ben Dwarshuis.
Cartwright provided a fine foil with three sixes and six fours off 40 deliveries, but the evening belonged to one man, with the MCG crowd offering a huge ovation to Stoinis.
SIXERS FAIL TO BUILD A PLATFORM
If there was any hope for the Sixers it may have come from the 2017 classic between the Hobart Hurricanes and the Melbourne Renegades, which coincidentally also took place on January 12.
On that occasion, the Hurricanes successfully chased 223, with that match providing the two highest totals in BBL history.
The Sixers needed everything to go their way, though, and, well, it just did not happen.
Moises Henriques (41) and Dwarshuis (42) made good scores but there were not enough substantial partnerships to trouble the Stars, for whom Clint Hinchcliffe finished with 3-20.
