An inexperienced Brisbane Heat have upset the Sydney Sixers to qualify for the Big Bash final against red-hot favourites the Perth Scorchers at Perth Stadium on Saturday night.
Desperately missing the wizardry of Indian tourist Steve Smith, the Sixers were undone by what should have been a significant home ground advantage, struggling to 9/116 on a slow, low, turning pitch before the Heat scrambled to a four-wicket victory with 10 balls to spare.
The hero was bowling allrounder Michael Neser, who scored an unbeaten 48 from 32 balls, including four successive boundaries during the power play, after the Heat slumped to 6/86.
“I’m just stoked we made the finals from being dead last on the table and now we’re in the grand final. I couldn’t think of anything better,” Neser said after the match.
It was the Sixers’ first loss ast the SCG in nine games.
The Heat’s victory came despite the loss of Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Matt Renshaw to Australia’s tour of India.
Michael Neser of the Heat bats during the Men’s Big Bash League match between the Sydney Sixers and the Brisbane Heat.Credit:Getty
The Scorchers have won four titles and at home are likely to make it a fifth.
The Heat began in spectacular fashion, with big hitting revelation Josh Brown hitting experienced spinner Steve O’Keefe down the ground for successive sixes in the third over and Sam Heazlett swatting Sean Abbott into the stands over the midwicket during the next over.
However, Heazlett (13 from 13 balls) ran himself from a misfield next ball, prompting a collapse. A short time later Brown (20 from 18 balls) was caught behind backing away and trying a big shot over cover and Nathan McSweeney (5 from 8 balls) was also caught behind off teenage Afghan leg-spinner Izharulhaq Naveed.
When usually reliable captain Jimmy Peirson (7) and English import Sam Hain (8) went within four balls either side of the 10 over break the Heat had lost 5/25.
Kurtis Patterson of the Sixers bats.Credit:Getty
There was a brief time at the start of the match where the Sixers appeared they may be covering the loss of Smith with a sound opening partnership.
Kurtis Patterson and Josh Philippe made it through the first three overs with 27 runs against the new ball before things began to unravel.
Promoted to the top of the order in place of Smith, Patterson played a couple of delightful cover drives to the boundary, suggesting he may have rediscovered the form which made him such a potent force for the Perth Scorchers last season.
But on 19 Patterson was cramped playing a hook against the impressive Spencer Johnson and caught at deep square leg, continuing a disappointing season which saw him average just 19.
Izharulhuq Naveed of the Sixers celebrates with Dan Christian after taking the wicket of Nathan McSweeney of the Heat.Credit:Getty
Philippe put away his early wild strokes but on 16 he was eventually given out caught behind attempting to sweep the first delivery from left arm finger spinner Matt Kuhnemann (3-17).
Umpire Donovan Koch gave Philippe not out but amid a tangle of bat and pads Peirson called for a review after the ball bobbed up and he caught it.
TV umpire Paul Wilson gave Philippe not out leg before wicket because the ball had brushed his batting glove, only to review the decision again because Peirson had taken the catch.
Like Patterson, it continued Philippe’s poor season. He averaged less than 18.
Brought in as Smith’s replacement, Dan Hughes attempted to stage a fightback and became the Sixers’ highest scorer with 23 from 24 balls before being bowled attempting to pull a faster ball from Kuhnemann.
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
