- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Usman Khawaja has rediscovered his brilliant best just in time for the Big Bash finals, punishing former side the Sydney Thunder as the Brisbane Heat posted 5-203 to win their rain-shortened elimination final at Sydney Showground Stadium.
Ably assisted by his Test teammate Marnus Labuschagne (73), Khawaja’s effort helped the Heat through to meet the Melbourne Renegades in another sudden-death final on Sunday.
The Thunder were 1-52 after 6.5 overs but were eight runs shy of the par score when the rain came down to bring an early halt to proceedings.
They had a brief glimmer of hope after they were forced off the first time when they were told they would win if they could score 38 off the next 13 deliveries but the rain came down again and time ran out for the hosts to force an unlikely win.
His 94 runs from 55 balls marked his best BBL innings since the summer of 2015-16 and helped him shake off a lukewarm first season with the Heat after more than a decade at the Thunder.
The Test opener is now the highest run-scorer in BBL finals matches despite playing only eight innings, reaffirming his status as a big-game player.
His former Thunder teammate Ben Cutting finally claimed Khawaja’s wicket in the 17th over before a swashbuckling cameo from his international teammate Matthew Renshaw (24) kept the Thunder on an even keel.
Labuschagne was a worthy co-conspirator, managing the highest score of a BBL career frequently interrupted by national duties before he was caught by Chris Green at long off.
Khawaja and Labuschagne went at a steady clip after the early loss of Josh Brown (3), with Khawaja only cutting loose while BBL debutant Ross Pawson was bowling.
Khawaja hit the 28-year-old grade cricketer for four on three occasions in his first over but they were to be the only boundaries until the last ball of the ninth over.
Alex Ross gave Khawaja a life on 33, dropping a difficult catch at deep point where the Test opener had slogged a Dan Sams full toss.
Khawaja broke the shackles with five boundaries from the first 10 balls he faced after drinks and brought his 12th BBL half-century up in a Pawson over that featured the first two sixes of the night.
The Thunder’s bowling attack was undermanned without the injured Brendan Doggett (elbow) and Gurinder Sandhu (calf) and the remaining bowlers struggled for a breakthrough. Spinner Usman Qadir (0-50) was especially expensive.
Labuschagne had originally been content to go at a run a ball but gradually got in on the action and brought his maiden BBL half-century up with one of his seven fours.
Khawaja managed 10 fours and three sixes before he edged Cutting to Gilkes in the 17th over but the bloodshed did not stop there. Renshaw belted Qadir for four consecutive boundaries, three of which were sixes, before chopping on.
The Heat’s total was the highest posted at Sydney Showground Stadium.
Gilkes departed early for three off eight but David Warner was building momentum for the first time in his brief BBL campaign by hitting 36 off 20 before the match came to an abrupt end due to the weather.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.