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“I did nick one": Bryant ends Stars' unbeaten streak thanks to non-review
Nicholas Quinlan • January 3rd, 2026 12:22 pm
The Brisbane Heat have ended the Melbourne Stars’ undefeated start to BBL|15 thanks to a four-wicket win in the final over.
Having won nine of their last ten games across BBL|14 and BBL|15, Melbourne came into the game as favourites, which only increased after setting the home team a total of 196 to chase thanks to solid knocks from Sam Harper, Marcus Stoinis and debutant Blake Macdonald.
And those chances appeared even more likely when the Stars had the Heat needing 76 runs off the last 30 balls.
But Max Bryant proceeded to turn the tables on the visitors.
Within the space of 18 balls, the 26-year-old hit 45 runs with Xavier Bartlett providing a handy 21 runs from 9 balls to secure victory.
But the Stars could have had Bryant out for just two.
During the 15th over, the 26-year-old had edged the ball to the keeper in Harper, but the decision was given not out, with Melbourne choosing not take it upstairs despite a semi-appeal.
And on replay, Ultraedge showed that he had a thick edge on the ball, leaving many confused as to why the Stars didn’t review.
That included Bryant himself.
“I did nick one there, early on in my innings,” Bryant told Fox Cricket post-game.
"Luckily, they didn’t review it, so (I was) lucky to get away there.
“I was kind of laughing after the timer (for a review) ran out.”
The ladder-leading Stars will look to rebound quickly when they take on their crosstown rivals, the Melbourne Renegades, at the MCG on January 4.
Meanwhile, the Brisbane Heat, who are now in fourth place, head to Coffs Harbour to play the Sydney Sixers on January 5.
Both games will be covered live by SEN, which can be heard through the SEN app and its radio network.
