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Perth have staged a remarkable comeback to snuff out Brisbane’s hopes of a major upset in the final at Optus Stadium on Saturday night, rising from the dead to get home with just three balls to spare.
Cooper Connolly was the unlikely hero for Perth, whacking 25 from 11 deliveries late in the run-chase in just his fourth BBL match, including 18 from one over, after the Scorchers looked like they were gone for all money.
Perth’s win meant they now have five BBL trophies in their cabinet to the delight of the 53,886 fans who packed in the ground to help the BBL attendance figures tick past the one million mark for the summer.
Needing 10 off the last over from Michael Neser, the Heat were forced to bring in an extra outfielder into the circle because they were behind in the over rate.
Nick Hobson hit the second ball, a full toss, for six and the next one was also slashed away to the boundary to kick off wild scenes of celebration.
“Outrageous scenes, an outrageous match,” said Adam Gilchrist on Fox Cricket commentary.
The Scorchers shot themselves in the foot early in their run-chase with a couple of costly run-outs – opener Stephen Eskinazi was caught short by Bryant when he failed to ground his bat while youngster Nick Hobson left captain Ashton Turner stranded on 53 off 32 just when it looked like the home side was on track for victory in the 17th over.
They stumbled from 3-54 to 4-134 when Josh Inglis was out for 26 but when Turner was dismissed at 5-137, they needed 39 from 19 deliveries.
Connolly and Hobson whacked the runs required in one of the most dramatic finishes in BBL history.
“All year we’ve been pretty strong so I felt like we deserved this one,” Connolly said. “It’s a dream come true when the crowd’s behind you. You just feel so safe at home.
“I had all faith in myself. I’ve been working over the last few weeks on range hitting so I had full confidence in myself to be able to do that.”
Josh Brown dropped a high catch in the outfield late in the chase which could have turned the momentum back to Brisbane.
The Heat were sitting last on the ladder in mid-January, but they won four of their next five games to scrape into the finals in fifth spot.
Brisbane got off to a strong start in their batting innings and were cruising at 1-104 after 12 overs when they called for the Power Surge.
Scorchers paceman Jason Behrendorff snared the scalps of Sam Heazlett (34 off 30 balls) and captain Jimmy Peirson (three) in an inspired over to help turn the momentum, with the Heat managing just eight runs from the two-over Surge.
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
But just as the home side looked set to turn the screws, Bryant came to the rescue with a quick-fire 31 off 14 balls.
Bryant, who used to open alongside Chris Lynn before falling out of favour and being demoted down the order, cracked two fours and three sixes to give his side a vital push.
Behrendorff was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2-26 from his four overs.
His figures would have been much better if it wasn’t for three thick edges from Brown (25 off 12 balls) in the first over of the match that all went to the boundary.
Matt Kelly, who pipped spinner Peter Hatzoglou for a spot in the XI, finished with 2-37 after snaring two late wickets.
The mercury was still hovering around 38 degrees when the match began at 4.30pm WST.
Behrendorff removed Heazlett and Peirson with rising deliveries that were hooked to fine leg in the 13th over, and Cameron Bancroft took a good catch low to the ground while looking into the sun to send Nathan McSweeney packing for 41 off 37 balls.
Ashton Turner. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
A six off the final ball of the innings by Xavier Bartlett ensured the Heat surpassed the 170 mark.
The Heat had been a dominant force during the finals, defeating the Sydney Thunder, Melbourne Renegades, and Sydney Sixers all on enemy territory to secure a spot in the decider.
They were given short shrift in the local newspaper in the lead-up to the final with the team labelled “nobodies” due to their lack of star power after losing Usman Khawaja, Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson and Marnus Labuschagne to Test duties.
Turner was named player of the match and the Scorchers skipper was almost lost for words after the win.
“It’s a never-say-die attitude and I think we’ve got the confidence where we can win from anywhere,” he said.
Peirson was proud of his team but said Perth had been the best team all season and thoroughly deserved to finish as champions.
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