After a thrilling upset victory over Sydney Sixers, the upgraded Brisbane Heat qualified for the BBL final with a game-winning knock from Michael Neser on a slowing SCG surface.
With their eight straight victories at home and the loss of Heat batters Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, and Matthew Renshaw to Australia’s tour of India, the Powerhouse Sixers were considered heavy favorites.
But after deciding to bat, the Heat’s accurate assault and excellent fielding crushed the Steve Smith-less Sixers.
The low score seemed sufficient until Neser smashed a BBL career-best 48 not out off 32 balls to demolish the goal with 10 balls remaining as Heat’s incredible comeback continued.
The Heat are on the verge of an incredible second BBL championship after winning seven of their past eight games, including road finals against the Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Renegades.
The Heat defeated the Perth Scorchers in their only grand final appearance in 2012–13; they will face each other on Saturday at Optus Stadium.
Heat wisely chose to go for hard against the new ball after studying the Sixers’ innings, and opener Josh Brown blasted two sixes off Steve O’Keefe.
Sam Heazlett, who was replacing Khawaja in his first game of the year, showed no signs of being frightened as he slammed a boundary off the bowler’s second delivery and then a six off seamer Sean Abbott.
On the following delivery, however, tragedy struck as Heazlett was run out for running on an overthrow, causing Heat to fall.
Heat failed to put runs on the board and fell to 56 for 5 when Neser and the returned Max Bryant rescued the team with a 30-run partnership.
In the power surge, Bryant lost his wicket, but Neser kept his composure and smashed four consecutive boundaries off seamer Hayden Kerr in the 16th over to dramatically turn the tide of the game.
He had some success along the road, but Neser’s boundary to end the match and give Heat cause to celebrate completed a historic upset.
Given their depth of knowledge and dominance over many years at their preferred SCG, the Sixers maintained their confidence despite only defending 117.
When O’Keefe found a leading edge to dismiss Heat captain Jimmy Perison, spinner Izharulhaq Naveed produced a stunning return catch to dismiss Sam Hain and put the Sixers in the driver’s seat.
However, Sixers were powerless to stop Neser’s hot hand, and their chances of reaching a fourth straight BBL grand final swiftly faded.
All-rounder Dan Christian, who won three BBL championships for various teams, saw his career come to an end as a result of the loss.
The Heat had a bad defense lineup, but they still had a powerful pace attack, led by Neser and the breakout Spencer Johnson.
But since spin was expected to be crucial on this surface, Mitchell Swepson’s absence, who is also traveling with Australia to India, loomed huge for Heat.
Frontline spinner Matthew Kuhnemann and part-timer Nathan McSweeney locking down Sixers following the powerplay allayed their concerns.
McSweeney, who had only bowled three overs in his previous seven BBL games, set the tone by tormenting the Sixers’ batters with his crisp off spinners.
Josh Philippe, an out-of-sorts opener, was quickly dismissed by left-armer Kuhnemann, who then bowled skipper Moises Henriques plumb lbw with a quicker delivery.
He removed Daniel Hughes to cap off an excellent spell that was highlighted by numerous deliveries that skidded off the pitch, while McSweeney got his maiden BBL wicket by dismissing Jordan Silk.
Johnson completed a strong first season with his maiden three-wicket haul in the BBL, and the quicks took care of the rest in the backside.
The Sixers were forced to make changes without Steven Smith, recalling veteran Hughes despite his limited game action this year.
However, Kurtis Patterson, who had batted at No. 3 when Smith was in the lineup, moved back to the top of the order and got off to a strong start with a beautiful drive through the covers off Neser.
Patterson got off to a fast start but couldn’t maintain it as he mishandled a short delivery from Johnson and was caught at deep square leg by Kuhnemann. This season, Patterson has struggled to equal the heights of his BBL breakout with Perth Scorchers last year.
At No. 3, Hughes’ experience was required since the Sixers were having trouble hitting in difficult conditions. Hughes persevered as wickets fell all around him, but thoughts of a spectacular return were dashed when Kuhnemann bowled him.
His 23 out of 24 proved to be the Sixers’ highest score as they struggled to get going.
All-around player Hayden Kerr was left to attempt and lead Sixers to a respectable total in the dying moments. Although Sixers came short of the target total, he was unable to duplicate his match-winning undefeated 98 from the equivalent match the previous season.