Maxwell stars in win; Heat crash out

GLENN Maxwell has delivered a stunning batting performance to propel Melbourne Stars into the BBL finals and deny Sydney Sixers a home semi-final.

Maxwell’s stunning 82 off 43 balls in yesterday’s do-ordie regular season finale at the MCG paved the way for a dominant 94-run win.

Set a target of 169, the Sixers were skittled for just 74 as Nepalese legspinner Sandeep Lamicchane snared 3-11.

The win lifts the Stars above Brisbane Heat to a fourthplaced finish and a semi-final against Hobart Hurricanes.

It also takes Melbourne Renegades above the Sixers to second on the ladder, meaning they will host the second semifinal against the Sixers.

Maxwell was contained early but, remarkably, scored his final 65 runs off just 23 balls, including three sixes in the final over from Ben Dwarshuis. His spectacular knock came to an end off the final ball of the innings when he was caught at mid off.

Sent in to bat by Sixers captain Moises Henriques, the hosts would have been in serious trouble early but for a pair of inexplicable fielding blunders by Tom Curran.

The England international had two opportunities to catch Marcus Stoinis at mid on but, both times, misread the flight of the ball and failed to launch.