It’s do or die for the Brisbane Heat in the final game of the BBL07 home-and-away season, with nothing short of a big win over the Melbourne Renegades enough to see them through to an unlikely finals berth. Join The Roar for live scores and analysis from 7:20pm (AEDT).
It’s been a year of ups and downs for the Heat, but with three straight losses since their last victory, over the ladder-leading Perth Scorchers no less, they have fallen from definite title contenders to likely also-rans in BBL07.
Notably, all three of these losses have occurred since talismanic batsman Chris Lynn went down to a calf injury, and with the master blaster clubbing 83 from just 28 balls in a recent practice match, his return for this match could tip the scales in the Heat’s favour.
However, thanks to their poor net run rate – in no small part caused by being bowled out for just 73 against the Sydney Sixers last week – just a win won’t cut it for the Heat. They must win big, or it’s curtains for their tournament.
Much like the Heat, the Melbourne Renegades began their campaign in dominant fashion, with four wins from their first five matches entrenching them in the top four.
But the loss of captain Aaron Finch and leading batsman Cameron White to international duties has proved disastrous for the men in red, with a pair of defeats to the Melbourne Stars and Adelaide Strikers putting their finals spot in jeopardy, before a win over the Sydney Thunder steadied the ship.
Nevertheless, with neither White nor Finch playing once more due to Australian commitments, and veteran batsman Brad Hodge in doubt for the rest of the season with appendicitis, they’re not quite out of the woods just yet – although it would take a seriously disastrous loss to tip them out of the top four.
Prediction
In front of a home crowd and with the dynamic Lynn back in the team, the Heat should prevail – although whether it will be by enough for them to leapfrog either the Renegades or the Hobart Hurricanes into the top four is another matter entirely.
Heat by 6 wickets or 25 runs
With the Lynn-less Heat top order failing miserably against the Sixers in their most recent match, a familiar face has been named in the squad for this crunch game – former Australian opening batsman Matt Renshaw – but with the team needing to swing for the fences for that finals berth, where he bats or even whether he plays remains to be seen.
Can the Heat make one last stand for BBL07 and triumph by enough to force us to take out our calculators? Or will the Renegades end the discussion with an away win to guarantee themselves place on the table?
Tune into The Roar’s live coverage from 7:20pm (AEDT), and remember to leave us your thoughts in the comments section below.
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
I think that you can rule them out. They have Cooper,Harris and White to score the runs, up against Neser,Laughlin,Stanlake and Khan. Then they have Bravo and Richardson to take the wickets versus Head,Carey,Weatherald and Ingram,not even a small chance.
Tim Miller
Editor
Tom Cooper is a deserving Player of the Match for his 36-ball 65, a couple of handy overs and of course, that one-handed stunner. That's it from me tonight. The Melbourne Renegades are finals-bound- as are the lucky Hobart Hurricanes-after a 26-run victory over the Brisbane Heat. The 'Gades will take on the Adelaide Strikers in the semi-finals, and on tonight's performance, can you rule them out? Cheerio!
Tim Miller
Editor
A super night for the Renegades; after a few lacklustre weeks, they look to have found form at the right time. Marcus Harris, Tom Cooper and Matt Short were excellent with the bat, admittedly against a Heat bowling attack that has always looked to be their weakest link. With the ball, they were very good too, Dwayne Bravo leading a varied and potent attack that never really gave the Heat a chance of chasing down the total. But it's in the field where they were best of all. First, Marcus Harris got the dangerous Chris Lynn with an excellent catch diving to his right, a moment which proved to be disastrous for the Heat. Then, Tom Cooper ran back with the flight about 30 minutes to take an amazing one-handed stunner to send Matt Renshaw back. And finally, as if to prove the 'Gades could do no wrong, Jon Holland flew to his right to take a one-handed grab in the opposite mitt to dismiss Alex Ross. If those three screamers are anything to go by, the Renegades are a dark horse in these BBL finals. They'll lose Kane Richardson to the T20I side, and Aaron Finch will still be gone, but they'll get Cameron White back, which is a big plus. For the Heat, well, they've finished the season with four straight losses, and again it's their depth that has proved costly. Once again, they've been reliant on Chris Lynn and Brendon McCullum to rack up big scores, especially since Joe Burns went down with a groin injury. Sam Heazlett was again shown up by the need to make runs quickly, neither Alex Ross nor Matt Renshaw were able to hit the big sixes the Heat desperately needed in those middle overs, and while Ben Cutting was excellent in that regard, he works best as a pinch-hitter at the death, not a middle-order batsman. With the bowling attack they had, notwithstanding another excellent display from spin twins Mitchell Swepson and Yasir Shah this tournament, the Heat needed to be making 200 runs every week for victory. The fact that they couldn't is the reason why their season ends here.
Tim Miller
Editor
The Finals: Semi-Final 1: Perth Scorchers vs Hobart Hurricanes at Optus Stadium Semi-Final 2: Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Renegades at Adelaide Oval
Tim Miller
Editor
19.5, Bravo to Swepson, OUT, and Bravo ices it! Never really looked in doubt, but the Heat are bowled out again. Yorker on leg stump, Swepson gives himself room looking to cut but misses, and the stumps light up! Melbourne Renegades defeat the Brisbane Heat by 26 runs.
Tim Miller
Editor
19.4, Bravo to Swepson, 2 runs, Swepson goes for an old-fashioned slog, high in the air but not enough on it to go over the ropes, plugs in the outfield and they get two. (HEAT 9/161)
Tim Miller
Editor
19.3, Bravo to Peirson, one run, gets an inside edge down to fine leg for a single. Final balls of the Heat's season. (HEAT 9/159)
Tim Miller
Editor
19.3, Bravo to Peirson, one wide, down leg, Peirson misses the flick but they'll get the ball back. (HEAT 9/158)
Tim Miller
Editor
19.2, Bravo to Peirson, 2 runs, slower yorker, Peirson digs it out wide of long on, they get back for two comfortably. (HEAT 9/157)
Tim Miller
Editor
19.1, Bravo to Peirson, 2 runs, tough to call this a chance. Full toss that Peirson middles out to the rope at deep square leg, Harris makes great ground out from deep mid-wicket but can't take the catch as it dies on him. Ridiculously tough one. (HEAT 9/155)
Tim Miller
Editor
Last over, and while the Heat can technically win, they can't do it in five balls unless there's a no ball, which seems unlikey.
Tim Miller
Editor
18.5, Richardson to Peirson, one run, near yorker length and Peirson drives down to long off for a single. Swepson on strike. (HEAT 9/153)
Tim Miller
Editor
18.3, Richardson to Yasir Shah, OUT, another first-ball duck for Yasir. Back of a length, Yasir looks to get inside the line and hook down to fine leg but it's on him quickly and he top-edges one up to Ludeman, who runs around and pouches the simple chance. Yasir Shah- c Ludeman b Richardson- 0 (1) Heat nearly gone now. Mitchell Swepson to the crease. (HEAT 9/152)
Tim Miller
Editor
18.2, Richardson to Peirson, one run, back of a length and pulled hard and flat to the fielder at deep mid-wicket on the bounce, a single. (HEAT 8/152)
Tim Miller
Editor
18.1, Richardson to Lalor, OUT, Lalor goes. Richardson goes full of a length, Lalor swings across the line but gets a top-edge, it's skied but Bravo takes it comfortably at cover. Not the man the Renegades would have wanted, though. Josh Lalor- c Bravo b Richardson- 7 (3) Yasir Shah to the crease. (HEAT 8/151)
Tim Miller
Editor
17.6, Pollard to Peirson, FOUR RUNS, are the Heat still a chance? Half-volley again from Pollard, Peirson swings for the fences and hits it out of the screws down the ground, and it's one bounce four! (HEAT 7/151)
Tim Miller
Editor
17.5, Pollard to Peirson, FOUR RUNS, now Peirson into the fun! Back of a length and slow from Pollard, Peirson waits for it and pulls handsomely to the fence at deep mid-wicket. (HEAT 7/146)
Tim Miller
Editor
17.3, Pollard to Lalor, one run, Lalor nudges straight to fine leg and sets off, the throw at the non-striker's end misses, they think about an overthrow but decide against it. (HEAT 7/142)
Tim Miller
Editor
17.2, Pollard to Lalor, SIX RUNS, Lalor shows Cutting how it's done. Half-volley with no pace, Lalor gets under it, times it well and crunches the pull shot over wide long on. (HEAT 7/141)
Tim Miller
Editor
17.1, Pollard to Peirson, one run, slower ball that Peirson pushes into the on side, straight to mid-wicket but they run anyway. (HEAT 7/135)