Brisbane have claimed their first Big Bash League title in 11 years after their band of late bloomers lifted the Heat to a 54-run win over the Sydney Sixers in the final.
Defending their total of 8-166, the Heat bowled the Sixers out for 112 in the 18th over to claim the title in front of a record crowd of 43,153 at the SCG.
The cake was officially iced when Michael Neser produced a stunning effort on the boundary for the Sixers’ ninth wicket, somehow remaining inside the rope at long on to take the catch off a Sean Abbott loft, keep himself inside the field of play on arms and knees, and flick the ball to nearby teammate Paul Walter.
It was a fitting result after Brisbane went through the first nine rounds of the season undefeated before their overseas stars left ahead of the finals.
But it was then the club’s late bloomers who stood up.
After opener Josh Brown and quick Spencer Johnson fired against Adelaide to send them into the decider, the pair were at it again on Wednesday.
Brown hit 53 from 38 balls to set the tone for the Heat before Johnson took the best ever figures in a BBL final with 4-26 to wipe out any hope the Sixers had of chasing down the target.
After a slow start when he hit three runs from his first 10 deliveries, Brown exploded after the powerplay to bring up 50 in 32 balls.
The right-hander hit three sixes off Hayden Kerr, with two dispatched over long on and another over backward square.
His innings allowed Max Bryant (29 off 19) and Matt Renshaw (40 from 22) to finish strong.
Brown was eventually lbw on review when replays showed a Steve O’Keefe ball hit his pad before he cut it to point, making him the retiring spinner’s 99th and final BBL wicket.
The 30-year-old only debuted last season, but has now attracted offers from overseas clubs in the UAE and Bangladesh since hitting 12 sixes in his 140 against the Strikers on Monday.
The only rise more rapid than Brown’s is Johnson’s, who debuted in the BBL aged 27 last summer and has since played for Australia.
Wednesday night was a reminder of why.
The left-armer, who was named man of the match, broke the back of the Sixers early when he bowled Jack Edwards for 16 after the Sixers had taken 13 runs from the first five balls of the over.
He also bagged the key wicket of Josh Philippe for 22 when the right-hander was caught at mid wicket, before returning to remove Ben Dwarshuis and Hayden Kerr with his pace and bounce.
Johnson’s wickets stunted any hope the Sixers had of chasing down the target, with COVID-battling captain Moises Henriques the only batter to reach 25.
Mitchell Swepson (2-19) also sent down the best ball of the game, beating Jordan Silk with flight and turn to have him stumped for a fourth-ball duck.
The Heat’s win comes after they were beaten in the final over of last year’s final, while the Sixers remain stuck on three titles from seven appearances in deciders.
Sean Abbott held the hosts together with the ball with 4-32, but they were always facing an uphill battle chasing 167 on what has been a low-scoring ground this season.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Warner had actually played a fair number of first class and 2nd XI red ball games before being selected in Tests, and had played representative cricket for years, back to under-17 level in 2003. Brown has only played a few second XI 50 over games for QLD about 18 months ago, and that’s it. Not to say it’s impossible.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Happens many times. Australia losing to England and India in recent years in Tests. But it is often crucial.
JohnB
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately for him, Brown is 30, and has never played FC cricket. Warner was 23 when he made his T20 international debut (and his subsequent FC debut) and waited almost another 3 years before his Test debut. Brown could play T20 internationals but Test cricket must be unlikely.
Michael Keeffe
Roar Guru
Yeah Johnson has plenty of potential in red ball cricket but needs to string a good season of red ball cricket together first. He's only played 4 first class games. He's done well in them but it's a little early to parachute him into test calculations any time soon. Morris is rightfully ahead of him.
Tufanooo
Roar Rookie
Yeah, it's why there is a not insignificant dose of double standards with the selectors when they demand players should be knocking the door down with runs in the shield. He was picked more on faith...and to be fair it paid off.
Tom
Interesting, no idea why I had it in my head that he was averaging 54. Maybe thinking of someone else then.
Tufanooo
Roar Rookie
Warner averaged about 37 in FC before his test debut actually
Tufanooo
Roar Rookie
Not even the most ardently biased transport Minister could agree with that statement. Melbourne has the best transport system
ant
Roar Rookie
seems like you've been watching the BBL only and not the Shield.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
Don't bring sound reasoning into it Tom! Let's just persist with out there thought bubbles! :happy: :thumbup:
Tony Taylor
All time screamer. Steady on, champ.
G Len N
Roar Rookie
I’m super impressed with McSweeny as a captain, a player and a tactician.
Tom
He doesn’t even have a Bulls contract, and he isn’t going to be given one at the age of 30. Warner made his test debut at 24 and averaged 54 in first class cricket before his debut. Entirely different circumstances between the two them. Not a chance Brown ever plays test cricket, he’s going to hit the T20 circuit and make some bank while he can.
langparker
Roar Rookie
And the most humble bloke out there given interviews I’ve seen after those great highlights.
langparker
Roar Rookie
Queenslanders haven’t needed to leave early from suncorp after big games in recent decades, usually celebrating.
Gamechanger
Roar Rookie
Morris has a lot of work to do from what I’ve seen recently. He bowls often too short and gets thrashed as a result. This is a common problem with fast bowlers who get carried away with their speed.
Gamechanger
Roar Rookie
He might do that except that a couple of Test opening batting positions are coming up probably over the next couple of seasons.
Gamechanger
Roar Rookie
No, he is the ready made replacement for Starc.
Gamechanger
Roar Rookie
Big pay days coming via IPL
Gamechanger
Roar Rookie
So your saying he can’t do a Warner and make a transition to Test cricket, on what basis? No one envisaged early on Warner opening the batting for the Test side, he came from basically nowhere to play T20. It all evolved from there. Warner is now going back to his roots. T20.