Blackcaps quick Trent Boult has had a career night with the bat for Melbourne Stars against Perth Scorchers in the Australian Big Bash League on Thursday.
Entering at No. 10 with the Stars in disarray at 86/8, Boult blasted an undefeated 23 runs off just 16 balls with a trio of sixes - including two off consecutive Ashton Agar deliveries - to register his highest score at any level in Twenty20 cricket through a total of 44 innings.
The 33-year-old combined with Hilton Cartwright in a ninth-wicket stand of 49 from 35 balls - the highest partnership of the innings - to help his side through to 135, which the Scorchers surpassed for the loss of four wickets with 15 balls remaining.
In Twenty20 internationals, Boult averages 6.40 runs and has a high score of 8.
Drafted third overall, he's playing his maiden season with the Melbourne Stars, after asking to be released from his NZ Cricket central contract in August.
He went wicketless with the ball at Perth's Optus Stadium, conceding 14 runs from three overs.
The result sees the Stars drop to second-bottom in the competition standings, with just one win from their past five matches.
Meanwhile, a magnificent batting display by Kiwi opener Colin Munro wasn't enough to help Brisbane Heat avoid another defeat.
Chasing Sydney Thunder's total of 182/6, the former Blackcap plundered 98 off just 53 balls at Carrara Oval, slamming three sixes and nine fours and going at a strike rate of 185.
But the Aucklander could only watch as his partners collapsed around him, with just one other batter registering double figures.
He eventually departed in the final over, as the bottom-placed Heat finished 11 runs short of their target at 171/9.
