Tim Paine racked up the highest score of the 2016-17 Big Bash League to date, but still finished on the losing side as a six-hitting masterclass from Rob Quiney helped the Melbourne Stars to a comfortable seven-wicket win over the Hobart Hurricanes.
Hobart skipper Paine thumped 91 from 61 balls at Blundstone Arena on Monday, punishing the Stars for missed chances when he had 21 and 37 to his name, while George Bailey finished unbeaten on 74 from 46 deliveries as the Hurricanes recovered from 32-3 to post 188-4.
However, that total was comfortably overhauled by the Stars, whose top three of Quiney (75 off 43), Luke Wright (48 off 29) and Glenn Maxwell (58 not out off 29) all contributed significantly.
The vast majority of Quiney's runs came through the leg side, the opener clubbing five maximums over the region between backward square and midwicket. Wright provided the initial impetus for the Stars with a typically aggressive knock and Maxwell finished the job, guiding his side home in their opening fixture with 14 balls unused.
Paine and Bailey had earlier shared 145 for the fourth wicket after a trio of early losses, but their efforts proved in vain as Hobart's pacemen, in particular Shaun Tait (0-56), came in for heavy punishment.
COME ON OVER TO MY SIDE
A somewhat agricultural approach paid off for Quiney as the left-hander continually pulled, swept and heaved across the line to good effect. The pick of his shots saw Hamish Kingston deposited into the top tier of the Ricky Ponting Stand, prompting the former Australia captain — commentating for Channel Ten — to state: "That's not [just] the biggest [shot] of the night, that's the biggest of the tournament so far. That's a huge hit."
MICHAEL'S MISERY GOES ON
The second over of the match saw former Hobart seamer Ben Hilfenhaus bowl D'Arcy Short and Dom Michael with successive deliveries. While Short thumped 61 on his tournament debut last week, Michael has now failed to score a run in four BBL innings.
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