BBL13-Heat vs Sixers Final Report: A wild, mistimed swipe from Sydney Sixers’ number 11 batsman, Steve O’Keefe, that ended in the hands of Paul Walter at mid-off sealed the second men’s Big Bash title for the Brisbane Heat. That they did it at the Sixers’ home ground, the Sydney Cricket Ground, made their win even more commendable.
The Brisbane Heat had topped the points table in the league phase but lost to the Sydney Sixers in the Qualifier. They then had to win two games on a trot to clinch the title, which they did, by defeating the Adelaide Strikers in the Challenger and the Sixers in the final.
The Heat had, unarguably, the best bowling attack in the tournament, and it was shown in the final as they comfortably defended 166, bowling the Sixers out for 112. Three of the top four highest wicket-takers of the season belong to the Brisbane Heat.
Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Sixers, As it happened:
It was an eyebrow-raising decision that Sydney skipper Moises Henriques made at the toss by electing to bowl first on a dry, two-paced SCG surface. Three out of four matches at this venue this season were won by the team batting first, and no team in the last three games had put a total above 160.
So when Brisbane posted 166, in a final no less, it felt that Henriques had made the incorrect decision at the toss, and it became more and more clear as the Sixers faltered in their chase.
Brisbane opener Josh Brown, who was coming off a thunderous century in the Challenger, top-scored in the final, scoring 53 runs in 38 balls with the help of 5 fours and 3 sixes. Brown was given an early reprieve when Dwarshuis dropped a tough but takeable catch at deep square leg when the batter had only scored 3 runs.
Matt Renshaw (40 off 22) and Max Bryant (29 off 19) played crucial finishing cameos that took Brisbane’s score to over 160, even as Sean Abbott took a four-wicket haul.
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In the chase, the Sixers simply never got going. Right from losing Daniel Hughes in the first over, the Sixers’ challenge effectively ended when they lost captain Henriques in the 12th over, with the required rate touching 11 and batting only getting tougher.
Fast bowler Spencer Johnson broke the back of the Sixers’ batting order with four wickets, including those of Josh Philippe and Jack Edwards.
BBL13-Heat vs Sixers Final Report: Man of the Match
Brisbane pacer Spencer Johnson was named Player of the Match in the BBL 2023/24 final for his figures of 4/26.
Also read:
- BBL13-Heat vs Sixers Final Report
- BBL13 Final Heat vs Sixers highlights
- Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Sixers Report
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