Brisbane Heat celebrate win over Sixers
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Sydney Sixers vs Brisbane Heat, Challenger: Heat storm into Finals to face Scorchers
Brisbane Heat move into the BBL Finals to face off against Perth Scorchers as beating Sydney Sixers today by 4 wickets.
Match Summary
Sydney Sixers vs Brisbane Heat, Challenger, Big Bash League
Sydney Sixers 116/9 (20 ov)
Brisbane Heat 117/6 (18.2 ov)
Result - Brisbane Heat won by 4 wickets
Defeating the Sydney Sixers at their home ground, the SCG, is a tough challenge, as teams have experienced over the years. The Sixers have won all their matches at the SCG this season, making the task even harder for the Brisbane Heat, who lost the toss. However, the Heat have excelled with their bowling performance.
The Sixers started strong in the powerplay, with a good pace despite the loss of Kurtis Patterson. However, things took a turn for the worse as the spin bowlers, Matthew Kuhnemann and Nathan McSweeney, applied pressure and took wickets. This not only slowed down the scoring rate but also left the Sixers struggling as they lost several key players.
The pitch was far from flat, with the ball sticking in it, making it difficult to bat on. The Brisbane Heat bowlers were spot on with their deliveries, consistently hitting the right length and targeting the stumps. The loss of Daniel Hughes signaled trouble for the hosts. Daniel Christian's final game at the SCG was also a disappointment, and the failure to utilize the Power Surge added to the hosts' woes.
In the final overs, bowlers took control with Michael Neser and Spencer Johnson delivering. They provided few opportunities for the batsmen and kept the Sixers from collapsing, resulting in a disappointing final score, particularly given the challenging batting conditions.
It's important to note that the Heat are missing three of their veteran players, putting pressure on the younger players to perform. They've struggled in the past with batting collapses, but hopefully not tonight. The question remains, which team will accompany the Scorchers in the final showdown on Saturday?
The final spot in the clash was up for grabs as two teams faced off. Despite a tricky pitch and a mediocre score, Brisbane Heat felt the pressure, but in the end, Michael Neser stepped up and sealed the win with his cool demeanor. This marks the Heat's second trip to the final in the competition's history.
Pursuing a modest target of 117, Josh Brown and Sam Heazlett got off to a fast start, but Heazlett was unfortunately run out due to an overthrow, leading to another Heat collapse. The difficult pitch was dominated by Izharulhaq Naveed, who made the most of his trickery to challenge the batters and break through the middle-order. The departure of captain Jimmy Peirson evened the playing field and made the game more intense as the Sixers worked to save every run.
The Heat struggled to build any meaningful partnerships when they needed it most. After losing half their team, Max Bryant attempted a counter-attack, but eventually gave in to the Power Surge. A poor shot led to his dismissal, rekindling the game. However, Michael Neser dominated Hayden Kerr in the second over of this stage, securing the victory with a series of well-hit boundaries.
After Neser's dominant performance, the Sixers had no chance of recovery. Despite the tight bowling efforts aimed at James Bazley, Neser stood out among his teammates. He fittingly sealed the victory with his highest BBL score, securing a championship showdown with the Perth Scorchers on Saturday for the ultimate prize.
Match Stats
Sydney Sixers Fall of wickets: 1-27 (Kurtis Patterson - 3.1 ov), 2-43 (Josh Philippe - 6.1 ov), 3-53 (Moises Henriques - 8.2 ov), 4-70 (Jordan Silk - 11.6 ov), 5-76 (Daniel Hughes - 12.5 ov), 6-91 (Daniel Christian - 16.3 ov), 7-98 (Ben Dwarshuis - 17.6 ov), 8-108 (Hayden Kerr - 18.6 ov), 9-110 (Sean Abbott - 19.2 ov)
Brisbane Heat Fall of wickets: 1-31 (Sam Heazlett - 3.3 ov), 2-39 (Josh Brown - 5.5 ov), 3-41 (Nathan McSweeney - 6.5 ov), 4-54 (Jimmy Peirson - 9.4 ov), 5-56 (Sam Hain - 10.1 ov), 6-86 (Max Bryant - 14.4 ov)
Playing XI
Sydney Sixers: Josh Philippe(WK), Moises Henriques(C), Kurtis Patterson, Jordan Silk, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Daniel Christian, Sean Abbott, Steve O'Keefe, Ben Dwarshuis, Izharulhaq Naveed
Brisbane Heat: Jimmy Peirson(WK/C), Sam Hain, Josh Brown, Max Bryant, Sam Heazlett, Nathan McSweeney, Michael Neser, James Bazley, Matthew Kuhnemann, Xavier Bartlett, Spencer Johnson
Match Details:
Date: Thursday, February 2, 2023 08:15
Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, Sydney
Toss: Sydney Sixers won the toss & elected to bat
Officials Umpires: Donovan Koch(Australia) Sam Nogajski(Australia)Paul Wilson(Australia TV)
Match Referee: Bob Parry(Australia)
© CricDirect 2023
