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Match Report:

Scorecard

Quiney, Maxwell lead Stars to opening win

Rob Quiney and Glenn Maxwell superb in run chase as Stars claim seven-wicket win after Tim Paine and George Bailey had lead Hobart recovery

The result: Hobart Hurricanes 4-188 (Paine 91, Bailey 74*, Hilfenhaus 3-38) lost to Melbourne Stars 3-191 (Quiney 75, Maxwell 58*) by seven wickets

The match in a tweet: Rob Quiney and Glenn Maxwell take wind out of Hobart sails in perfect run-chase

The Hero: There were a few eyebrows raised when Rob Quiney strode to the middle to open the Stars' innings. Ricky Ponting questioned on commentary why he was opening when Glenn Maxwell, who opened in Australia's last T20 series, was left on the bench. He put those questions to rest with a stellar innings. He started very slowly, and it might have been all very different had he been given out when slipping over against spinner Clive Rose (see below). He also had some luck with some narrow misses by Hobart  but he made the most of his chances. When Maxwell entered, he found himself in the unusual area of playing second fiddle, knocking it around as Quiney dominated. By the time he left, The Stars needed just 28 from 27 balls.

Quiney puts in a man-of-the-match effort

The non-decision: Rob Quiney lost his footing, and was rapped on the leg right in front of the pegs. But his awkward fall may actually have saved him. It may have distracted umpire Paul 'Blocker' Wilson – normally unflappable – into giving it not out, much to the chagrin of Hobart spinner Clive Rose.

Quiney slip a thorn in spinner Rose's side

The X-factor: On the outer with the Australian one-day team, Glenn Maxwell had spent the past month either mixing drinks during the New Zealand ODI series or playing club cricket. He picked up a wicket and was his usual dynamic self in the field, but it was with the bat he really stood out. Supporting Quiney while the opener was in his pomp, all of a sudden Maxwell accelerated to put Hobart out of the contest. The start was scratchy by the finishing was sublime.

Maxwell starts BBL|06 with a bang in Hobart

Hobart's horror start: Hobart turned out in huge numbers to see new whiz kid D'Arcy Short, following his debut 63 against the Sydney Sixers. But his appearance was short lived against Melbourne as Ben Hilfenhaus cleaned him up with his very first ball. Dom Michael did not fare much better, also bowled first ball. Incidentally, Michael has now completed four Big Bash League innings – all ducks, with consecutive first-ball dismissals.

The hat-trick hack: Having taken two wickets, Hilfenhaus was eyeing up his first Big Bash hat-trick. The third ball of his first over, however, was one he'd like to have again. Perhaps an attempt at a slower ball that went wrong, the Tasmanian seamer delivered a wide full-toss that Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara duly smashed straight to the point boundary. Adding insult to injury, the ball was called a no-ball for being above waist height.

Hilfenhaus openers that had absolute everything

Maxi-mum impact: Thrown the ball for the fifth over of Hobart's innings, it didn't take long for cricket's biggest X-factor to make his mark, dropping the pace with an off-spinner to have Sangakkara skying a drive directly to James Faulkner at long-off.

Maxi quick to make his mark

The consolation knock: Having watched wickets clatter at the other end, Tim Paine was the rock the Hurricanes could anchor their innings around. Throwing everything at the ball and hitting it incredibly hard, Paine pierced the field and rattled the Stars' bowlers. Some of his shot-making was sublime – the booming pulls onto the hill for six, the clever ramp of a slower-ball for a boundary in the vacant fine leg region. With a booming drive through the covers Paine had a new career-high score in the BBL. This was a T20 tour de force and the stats tell a compelling story: 91 runs, 61 balls, 11 x 4s and the one six.

Pleasure and Paine for Hurricanes supporters

Bailey's Bash League: The ever-smiling George Bailey could have been forgiven for not smiling early on after copping a painful blow on 'funny bone' in his right arm. But not George Bailey, he kept smiling. More grin than grimace, he was soon the smiling assassin as he dispatched the white Kookaburra to all parts of Blundstone Arena. He launched some impressive 90-metre-plus monster sixes – none of which managed to be held onto by the Hobart faithful on the hill. But his best shot was surely the 'reverse ramp' – a cute little flick over the head of short third man. Most impressively, with his much-discussed unique stance, he managed to not tangle his feet.

Bailey's bash gives Hobart plenty to smile about

The recovery effort: Hobart were 3-32 when Bailey and Paine came together. It was 145 runs later when Paine was caught on the boundary by Maxwell – who nearly tangled his feed claiming the catch, as he explained to Network 10 viewers, having been on the mic when the catch was taken.

Maxwell commentates after ending Paine innigs

The Wright Stuff: Luke Wright continues to be the Big Bash League's most consistent and most successful overseas import. The former England international has played all six seasons of the BBL for the Melbourne Stars, and his 48 at the top of the order was the perfect opening the visitors needed.

Luke's still got the Wright stuff

What's next: Hobart now head to face the in-form Heat at the Gabba on December 30, while the Stars next match is the New Year's Day Melbourne Derby against the Renegades at the MCG in what could be another absolute epic crowd after last year's 80,000+ audience.

Quiney crunches a monster into Ponting Stand

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Hobart Hurricanes: Tim Paine (c), Dan Christian, Cameron Boyce, George Bailey, Stuart Broad, Hamish Kingston, Dom Michael, Clive Rose, Kumar Sangakkara, D'Arcy Short, Shaun Tait.

Melbourne Stars: David Hussey (c), Michael Beer, Scott Boland, James Faulkner, Sam Harper, Ben Hilfenhaus, Glenn Maxwell, Rob Quiney, Marcus Stoinis, Luke Wright, Adam Zampa

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