BBL: Brisbane Heat thump Melbourne Stars in season opener

Brisbane Heat celebrate during their 103-run victory over Melbourne Stars

Brisbane Heat registered a crushing 103-run victory over Melbourne Stars in the opening game of the Men's Big Bash.

Heat cruised to victory on home soil after setting the Stars 215 to win, helped by a score of 99 not out from Colin Munro.

In response, Stars lost early top-order wickets, including captain and 2023 World Cup winner Glenn Maxwell for 23.

Stars were bowled out for 111, with spinner Mitchell Swepson returning figures of 3-23.

There were plenty of international stars on show during the season opener.

Heat, who finished fifth last season, were captained by Australia Test opener Usman Khawaja, who played alongside fellow Test batter Marnus Labuschagne, the pair scoring 28 and 30 respectively.

Both are in Australia's Test squad to face Pakistan in a three-match series, starting on 14 December.

The Heat side also included English wicketkeeper Sam Billings and all-rounder Paul Walter. Billings scored 18 off 11 balls with the bat, while Walter took his first ever Big Bash wicket.

Australia's World Cup-winning duo of Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis were part of a Stars side that included all-rounder Liam Dawson and bowler Olly Stone, who have both played three Test matches each for England.

Both were unable to take a wicket and were dismissed for single figure scores with the bat.

There was some concern that Maxwell had suffered an injury to his right forearm, receiving strapping on it while batting.

Stoinis (2) struggled for runs, as did Stars openers Thomas Rogers (1) and Sam Harper (4). Hilton Cartwright's 33 off 16 made him the only Stars player to put on a score north of 30.

The Big Bash continues on Friday, with Sydney Sixers hosting the Melbourne Renegades at 08:15 GMT.

You can follow live commentary throughout the competition via the BBC Sounds app, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sport Website.