The Brisbane Heat got their second win of this BBL season on Sunday night and in doing so ended the finals hopes of the Sydney Sixers.
REPORT: HEAT TORCH SIXERS’ FINALS HOPES
The Heat batted first and despite superstar batsman Chris Lynn going for just a single run, they were able to post a solid total of 162 thanks mostly to Lendl Simmons and Joe Burns.
The Sixers set about the chase and solid totals from Michael Lumb (47) and Brad Haddin (42) made them look a serious chance to win.
However when Haddin fell their hopes seemed to go with him, and they ultimately finished six runs short of a victory.
Final score
Sydney Sixers 8/156
Brisbane Heat 8/162
The Sydney Sixers are limping towards the BBL finals, and they desperately need a win over the lowly Brisbane Heat to get there. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:25pm (AEDT).
Perhaps the first-up loss to the Sydney Thunder meant more at the time than we realised, but convincing wins over the Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Renegades had many talking up the Sixers’ chances of getting back to the BBL final this season.
But injuries and Test selection have made BBL05 a miserable slog since, with the Melbourne Stars, Adelaide Strikers and Perth Scorchers all enjoying convincing wins over last year’s runners-up.
The Brisbane Heat haven’t fared much better.
The Renegades, Scorchers and Hurricanes (twice) all enjoyed victory over the Queenslanders before they finally got their first win, over the Thunder.
Any hopes that might spark a late-season revival were dashed however, with the Strikers crushing the Heat by eight wickets on Friday night.
These teams faced off in the first ever BBL match with the Sixers claiming the win on that occasion, and every occasion between these two sides since.
Prediction
Despite their poor form this season and particularly poor record against the Sixers, their opponents have just been too inconsistent this season to deserve the backing. Brisbane Heat to win.
Heat by 13 runs.
Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:25pm (AEDT)
Stirling Coates
Editor
INNINGS Johan Botha can only manage a single off the last ball and the Brisbane Heat claim a six-run win. SIXERS - 8/156 J. Botha - 18 (10) J. Bird - 1 (1) Over: 20 HEAT - 8/162
Stirling Coates
Editor
SIX Johan Botha isn't going down meekly, this time he's able to sweep one to deep midwicket for a massive six! SIXERS - 8/155 J. Botha - 17 (9) J. Bird - 1 (1) Over: 19.5 HEAT - 8/162
Stirling Coates
Editor
FOUR Johan Botha with a clever lift to deep third man, but it bounces just before the rope for four runs. That means the Sixers require 14 off two balls, and so the Heat have won. SIXERS - 8/149 J. Botha - 11 (8) J. Bird - 1 (1) Over: 19.4 HEAT - 8/162
Stirling Coates
Editor
OVER One over to go for the Brisbane Heat, and they'll need to surrender 21 off it to lose. Not looking likely with Jackson Bird on strike and Johan Botha at the other end. SIXERS - 8/142 J. Botha - 5 (5) J. Bird - 0 (0) Over: 19 HEAT - 8/162
Stirling Coates
Editor
WICKET Finally one sticks in the Heat's mitts! Nathan Lyon tries to take Josh Lalor downtown, but he doesn't get enough on it and Joe Burns takes the catch. SIXERS - 8/142 J. Botha - 5 (4) N. Lyon - 7 (4) Over: 18.5 HEAT - 8/162
Stirling Coates
Editor
CHANCE Nathan Lyon skies his second delivery to mid on, but the sitter is dropped! Two runs cashed in off the error and the Brisbane Heat continue to keep the door ajar for their opponents! SIXERS - 7/137 J. Botha - 1 (1) N. Lyon - 6 (2) Over: 18 HEAT - 8/162
Stirling Coates
Editor
FOUR Nathan Lyon top-edges a bouncer first ball, but it's over everybody's heads and it goes for four at long stop. SIXERS - 7/135 J. Botha - 1 (1) N. Lyon - 4 (1) Over: 17.5 HEAT - 8/162
Stirling Coates
Editor
WICKET It's all falling apart for the Sixers now. Ben Cutting gets his second of the over with a slower delivery, gets Ben Dwarshuis to try a cross body shot that he ends up edging to the keeper. Heat well into the tail now. SIXERS - 7/131 B. Dwarshuis - 13 (8) J. Botha - 1 (1) Over: 17.4 HEAT - 8/162
Stirling Coates
Editor
WICKET Huge wicket for the Brisbane Heat! Brad Haddin cops a thick outside edge and Mitchell Swepson - the man who dropped him earlier - is able to take the running catch at fly slip! Very hard to see the Sixers winning it from here. SIXERS - 6/130 B. Haddin - 42 (24) B. Dwarshuis - 13 (7) Over: 17.2 HEAT - 8/162
Stirling Coates
Editor
OVER Eight runs off the over the Sixers, but Josh Lalor gets two important dot balls late. 34 to win it off the final three overs. SIXERS - 5/129 B. Haddin - 42 (23) B. Dwarshuis - 12 (6) Over: 17 HEAT - 8/162
Stirling Coates
Editor
FOUR Brad Haddin gets a thick edge over short third man and it rolls all the way to the rope for another important boundary. SIXERS - 5/129 B. Haddin - 42 (21) B. Dwarshuis - 12 (6) Over: 16.4 HEAT - 8/162
Stirling Coates
Editor
OVER Into the final four overs of the Sixers innings now, and they'll need 42 to claim the win. Not impossible, but with only the five wickets in hand it could unravel quite quickly. SIXERS - 5/121 B. Haddin - 37 (19) B. Dwarshuis - 9 (4) Over: 16 HEAT - 8/162
Stirling Coates
Editor
SIX Ben Dwarshios drops to one leg and gets all of the ball with his slog sweep - into the seats at long on for six. SIXERS - 5/119 B. Haddin - 36 (18) B. Dwarshuis - 8 (3) Over: 15.4 HEAT - 8/162
Stirling Coates
Editor
WICKET Jordan Silk misjudges the spin on Mitchell Swepson's first ball, and it skids past his bat into the stumps for a huge wicket! Sixers in serious trouble now. SIXERS - 5/111 B. Haddin - 36 (18) J. Silk - 3 (5) Over: 15.1 HEAT - 8/162
Stirling Coates
Editor
FOUR Haddin dropped again! This time the ball is cut to deep cover, right down the throat of Lendl Simmons, but it breezes by his fingers and goes for four! Five overs to go and the Sixers will need 52 to claim it. SIXERS - 4/111 B. Haddin - 36 (18) J. Silk - 3 (4) Over: 15 HEAT - 8/162
Stirling Coates
Editor
FOUR Easy straight hit for Brad Haddin, right over the bowler's head for four runs. SIXERS - 4/105 B. Haddin - 31 (16) J. Silk - 2 (3) Over: 14.3 HEAT - 8/162
Stirling Coates
Editor
OVER Eventful 14th over. 10 off it, but the dangerous opener Michael Lumb removed. 63 runs required off the final 36 balls. SIXERS - 4/100 B. Haddin - 27 (15) J. Silk - 1 (1) Over: 14 HEAT - 8/162
Stirling Coates
Editor
WICKET The pain is erased quite quickly for Jason Floros! Michael Lumb completely misplays the fuller delivery and off come the bails. Important wicket for the Heat! SIXERS - 4/99 M. Lumb - 47 (37) B. Haddin - 27 (15) Over: 13.5 HEAT - 8/162
Stirling Coates
Editor
CHANCE Brad Haddin goes after Floros again, but this time he doesn't have the distance. Mitchell Swepson standing underneath it - but he drops the sitter! What a reprieve! SIXERS - 3/99 M. Lumb - 47 (37) B. Haddin - 27 (15) Over: 13.4 HEAT - 8/162
Stirling Coates
Editor
SIX Brad Haddin with a glorious sweep shot, sending Jason Floros deep into the seats at deep midwicket. SIXERS - 3/98 M. Lumb - 47 (37) B. Haddin - 26 (14) Over: 13.3 HEAT - 8/162