Clarke cameo, Maxwell's magic catch keep Stars alive

A superb all-round performance from skipper Glenn Maxwell has kept the Melbourne Stars' KFC BBL season alive as they downed the Brisbane Heat by eight wickets at the MCG.

The Stars captain took a contender for catch of the summer with an extraordinary grab over his head to remove Sam Heazlett, which backed up his 2-19 with the ball.

He then ensured the Stars didn't encounter any difficulties in the chase with 37 from 30 balls at the top of the order as they moved to 22 points and stayed in the race for fifth spot with a game to play.

The loss puts an end to the Heat's season, and they are now unable to bridge the nine-point gap to fifth in their final two games.

Maxwell opened the innings for the third game in a row and together with English import Joe Clarke set about pursuing the Heat's 6-149 at rapid pace, taking 48 runs from the four-over Powerplay.

Clarke mixed power with finesse as he launched seamer James Bazley for six over long on before following it up with a ramp past the wicketkeeper next ball.

He then crunched Mark Steketee for three boundaries in the next over as he became the first batter in the competition to register five half-centuries this season.

Steketee provided a rare highlight for the Heat when Maxwell picked out short fine leg and was dismissed in the 11th over, but Hilton Cartwright snuffed out any thoughts of a fightback with a six from his first ball.

Clarke also fell an over later for 62 (36) but Cartwright and Marcus Stoinis finished the game shortly afterwards as they took 23 runs off one over bowled by Mitch Swepson, who returned to the Heat side from Test squad duties alongside Michael Neser.

Cartwright (16no) and Stoinis (29no) both finished unbeaten with strike rates of more than 200 as the Stars cruised home with 37 balls to spare.

Earlier, Heat skipper Jimmy Peirson, who was back in the side after his COVID-19 diagnosis, elected to bat first and veteran Chris Lynn signalled his intent from the outset, dancing down the pitch second ball and whacking Sam Rainbird straight over his head for six.

Lynn, in his 100th BBL match, put on the Heat's highest opening stand this season of 50 with Nathan McSweeney.

But just when Lynn looked like exploding, Maxwell brought himself into the attack and induced the error as the BBL's highest-ever run scorer skied a simple chance to be on his way for 28 from 22 balls.

McSweeney fell for a run-a-ball 20 in the next over from Pakistani Ahmad Daniyal and suddenly the Heat were in some trouble at 2-53.

The Stars bowlers, led by Adam Zampa with 2-20, put the clamps on once the field went back as they conceded only two boundaries in the next six overs.

English international Ben Duckett played mostly a lone hand with 51 from 42 balls, with only Peirson (15no) providing a couple of late boundaries to help give the Heat's bowlers something to defend.

The Stars now need the Sydney Sixers to beat the Strikers in their clash at Adelaide Oval tomorrow evening, which would put their destiny in their own hands for their final game of the regular season against the Hobart Hurricanes on Wednesday.

The Stars can also move into fifth if the Renegades beat the Hurricanes on Tuesday, and they win the following day.