Maxwell rewrites the record books as Stars win big

Glenn Maxwell has destroyed the Hobart Hurricanes with the highest ever score in KFC BBL history as the Melbourne Stars posted the third largest total in T20 cricket.

Maxwell brutalised the Hobart attack to every corner of the MCG in an extraordinary 154 not out off 64 balls that surpassed Marcus Stoinis' 147 not out in BBL|09.

It just so happened that Stoinis (75no off 31) was at the other end when his mark was passed by Maxwell, with the two sharing a huge smile and a glove punch when the Stars' captain equalled his teammate's record.

The pair put on an unbeaten 132 for the third wicket as the Stars, who were playing with nothing to lose given they were out of the finals race, finished their season in style by posting a Big Bash record total of 2-273.

Only two teams in T20 cricket worldwide have hit a higher total – Afghanistan and the Czech Republic, both with 278 – and it easily exceeded the Sydney Thunder's 5-232 from last season.

The win takes the Stars to a 7-7 record in BBL|11, which is a better ledger than the Adelaide Strikers 6-8 who finished fourth and qualified for finals thanks to the 10 Bash Boost points they accumulated in their 14 games.

Stoinis said he was "super happy" for Maxwell but wished the record-breaking knock had come in better circumstances instead of a dead rubber.

"We pretty much just spoke about Maxi before the game and that it was his 100th game, what a great achievement," Stoinis said after the game.

"It was nice to watch Maxi do his thing ... put such a good show on for the crowd. Nice for Joe (Clarke) to get off to a brilliant start again, we've found a really good player there."

Maxwell, in his 100th BBL game, opened the batting for the fourth time in a row and partnered Clarke (35 off 18) after Hurricanes' skipper Matthew Wade elected to field first in the third match of a BBL triple-header on Wednesday.

Hobart, who could have moved above the Strikers to fourth with a win, opted to rest Ashes hero Scott Boland, who was still suffering soreness from the fifth Vodafone Test in Hobart, given there was no advantage as their final on Friday night will be played at the MCG regardless.

Speedster Riley Meredith and Tom Rogers were also rested for the same reason.

Maxwell and Clarke put on 97 in just seven overs, seemingly trying to hit every ball into the crowd to go out of the tournament with a bang.

The 33-year-old Aussie superstar pulled out all the tricks in his second century of the tournament, with reverse ramps, switch hits, slaps over cover and slices over third man all sailing to and beyond the rope.

He brought up the ton in just 41 balls, the second quickest in the competition's 11 seasons, bettered only by Craig Simmons 39-ball effort in January 2014.

It took Maxwell to 468 runs for the tournament, second behind Ben McDermott who scored 55 (33) in the almost impossible chase.

Nick Larkin (3) missed out for the Stars but that only brought Stoinis to the crease who monstered half a dozen sixes in his own blistering knock, while Maxwell hit a record 22 fours and four sixes.

The Hurricanes tried eight bowlers, but all conceded more than 10 runs an over, with Josh Kann's two overs costing 40.

McDermott started valiantly with four sixes of his own, but wickets kept falling around him and when he was out in the 12th over the chase petered out.

D'Arcy Short was the next highest scorer with 41 not out as the Hurricanes fell 106 runs short on 6-167, while Brody Couch signed off his breakout season with 3-30 to finish with 16 wickets.

McDermott, who has played some unbelievable Big Bash knocks of his own, said Maxwell's innings was the "most incredible thing" he'd ever seen on a cricket field.

"I don't think anything will top that," he said. "It was the perfect storm, we didn't bowl very well and he's played out of his skin, absolutely special, world-class."

The Stars will be left thinking what could have been in BBL|11 and barring a mid-season COVID outbreak that derailed their momentum when 13 players tested positive, they could have easily been challenging for the title.

The Hurricanes will need to lick their wounds quickly as they face the Strikers in the Eliminator final at the MCG on Friday night.