The Brisbane Heat rose from the embers to win a thriller on Monday night when a dramatic 108-run partnership between home grown Queenslanders Max Bryant and Matt Renshaw propelled them back into BBL finals contention.
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MATCH CENTRE: Heat vs Thunder scorecard, teams, videos, updates
The Heat won by five wickets, chasing down the Sydney Thunder’s 173-run total in scintillating fashion. Gold Coast product Bryant (72, 35 balls) and Brisbane Grammar alumni Renshaw (48 not out, 33 balls) belted bowlers left, right and centre at the Gabba in a power-hitting display of serious magnitude.
The reigning premiers were staring down the barrel of a fourth straight loss and an almost impossible run to make finals when they were 3-47 after nine overs seeking 127 from 66 balls. At the halfway mark, they were 3-53 and in need of a miracle.
Entering the fray was a blistering Bryant, who stood and delivered, with Renshaw firing on all cylinders at the other end.
In a fifth-wicket partnership of dreams, the pair smacked 16 boundaries and mustered 94 runs from 36 balls to enter the final four overs in control. 30 minutes prior, the Thunder looked prime to bring up their fourth straight victory.
In his return, Michael Neser hit the winning runs with seven balls to spare after a clinical power surge of carnage between Bryant and Renshaw rocked the Thunder bowling attack to its core.
Assistant coach Dan Christian had the midas touch. He added an unbeaten 23 batting No.8 and restricted the flow of runs with the ball (1-25) when the Heat mounted their comeback but it was in vain.
CHRISTIAN ANSWERS THUNDER SOS IN STYLE
Thunder assistant coach Dan Christian wound back the clock when two superb six hits highlighted his telling 23-run cameo that gave his team extra cushion.
Christian, the 41-year-old champion allrounder with nine T20 titles under his belt, was thrust into the lineup for the injury-hit Thunder as a replacement player and finished his team’s batting innings with a fantastic flurry that propelled them to 173.
The Thunder crumbled to 7-129 at the 16th over mark after a fast start had them sitting pretty at 1-31 from four overs.
After a barrage of wickets by Heat quicks Spencer Johnson (3-39) and Xavier Bartlett (1-39) gave the home side the upper hand, old-timer Christian was influential steadying the ship towards the final ball.
It was clear Christian had not missed a beat after previously hanging the boots up at the end of BBL12.
He put away two sixes and rotated the strike well after the club had put out an SOS with Cameron Bancroft (broken nose and fractured shoulder) and Daniel Sams (concussion) both out following a sickening collision last game.
With the ball, Christian removed first-drop bat Nathan McSweeney (7) with the final ball of the power play and finished with figures of 1-25 from four overs.
WARNER, NESER IN GOOD TOUCH
Before Christian’s cameo, David Warner put Brisbane to the sword wielding the blade he made famous in the 2010s- the Grey Nicolls Kaboom.
The left-handed opener showed he has more to give with a 35-ball fifty, his third of the season, providing a strong foundation for the Thunder’s pressurising batting innings.
A glorious cover drive to bring up his half century was one of seven fours he hit and, on the other side of the fence, Michael Neser returned to play with precision.
In his return after suffering a hamstring tear in November, Neser snared two wickets across his four overs.
Leaking just 25 runs, Neser had the best economy rate among a stacked Heat bowling attack that couldn’t capitalise when Warner departed in the 15th over (6-125).
Neser (7 not out, 3 balls) joined Renshaw in the middle to bring up the winning runs for Brisbane in arguably the best comeback of the season.
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MATCH PREVIEW
Nathan McSweeney and the Brisbane Heat host David Warner and the Sydney Thunder in a blockbuster clash at The Gabba.
The Brisbane Heat won the toss and elected to bowl.
The second placed Thunder can jump the Sixers into first with a victory, while the fifth placed Heat can jump the Scorchers into fourth with a win.
McSweeney and Max Bryant will lead the charge with the bat for the Heat, while Michael Neser returns from injury to join forces with Xavier Bartlett with the ball.
For the Thunder Warner and Sam Billings will be ones to watch with the bat after the injuries to Cameron Bancroft and Daniel Sams, which has forced the surprise call-up of retired 41-year-old Dan Christian.
Wes Agar and Chris Green will be danger men with the ball for the visitors.
It sets the scene for a mouth-watering clash with both sides desperate for wins in the build-up to the BBL14 finals series.
TEAMS
Brisbane Heat: Colin Munro (c), Jack Wood, Matthew Renshaw, Nathan McSweeney, Max Bryant, Tom Alsop (wk), Michael Neser, Spencer Johnson, Xavier Bartlett, Mitch Swepson, Matt Kuhnemann
Sydney Thunder: David Warner (c), Matthew Gilkes, Oliver Davies, Sam Billings (wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Hugh Weibgen, Chris Green, Daniel Christian, Tom Andrews, Lockie Ferguson, Wes Agar
