STA VS HEA T20S

Right then, that is all we have from this absolute thriller of a game and Brisbane Heat have managed to keep their playoff hopes alive.  The action in the 12th edition of the Big Bash League continues on Tuesday 17th January as Sydney Sixers host Adelaide Strikers at The Coffs Harbour International Stadium and the game will begin at 1.45 pm IST (8.15 am GMT). As always, you can join us in advance for the build-up. Until then, take care and goodbye!

Matt Renshaw has been presented with the Player of the Match award for his match-winning knock of 90 runs from 56 balls and claiming one wicket. He says that he is really happy to get over the line. Shares that Matthew Kuhnemann was cool and calm and he suggested to him to play the ramp on the last delivery. Adds that he could not really see if the ball had gone to the fence on the last ball but heard the crowd and realized it was four runs. Mentions that he was surprised to see Beau Webster bowl the final over. Feels that they went with him as takes the ball away from left-handed batters. Reckons that it is important to play straight in a ground like MCG with large square boundaries. Ends by saying that results did not go their way at the start of the competition but they are starting to build momentum nicely.

Brisbane Heat had control of this game early on with their bowling effort as they had the hosts struggling at the halfway stage in the first inning. However, a fighting effort from Beau Webster and a half-century from Nick Larkin took them close to the 160-run mark which gave the bowlers something to defend. Michael Neser was the destroyer in chief for the visitors as he claimed 4 wickets and conceded just 25 runs in his four overs. Spencer Johnson, James Bazley, and Matt Renshaw all claimed a wicket each but they would have not been able to win this game had it not been for the effort of Matt Renshaw with the bat.

Brisbane Heat would have liked to have built a steady opening partnership but lost Josh Brown early. Usman Khawaja looked to be aggressive from the word go but was dismissed after playing a short cameo as he looked to play one shot too many. Marnus Labuschagne could not get going either and when Sam Hain was dismissed at the start of the ninth over, the visitors were reeling at 59 for the loss of four wickets. Jimmy Peirson joined Matt Renshaw in the middle and together they added 66 runs in 43 balls to take their side close to the target but had several lifelines on their way there. The dropped catch of Matt Renshaw by Clint Hinchliffe definitely will come back to haunt the hosts as he scored 90 in 56 balls to guide the visitors home. The southpaw did take it really deep playing three dot balls in the last over but the ramp shot on the last ball made all the difference.

Melbourne Stars carried the momentum from their batting effort into their bowling and Liam Hatcher got them a breakthrough in his very first over. He returned for his second over and claimed one more wicket to give his side hope of defending the total. Clint Hinchliffe was brought into the attack and claimed a wicket on his very first delivery with Adam Zampa following suit to dismiss a batter on his first ball. At this point, it looked like the hosts had managed to claw themselves back on top of the tie. They were however poor in the field with a dropped catch and missed several run-out chances to allow their opponents back into the game. Nathan Coulter-Nile did manage to break the partnership though but by then Brisbane Heat were in a comfortable position. Beau Webster was given the last over and bowled really well in an attempt to defend nine runs but conceded a boundary on the last ball to suffer defeat.

What a game we have witnessed here! Matt Renshaw has played a remarkable inning to single-handedly lead Brisbane Heat to a crucial win! What a humdinger of a contest this has been and the visitors are still alive in this tournament after sealing a 3-wicket win on the last ball of the inning. Melbourne Stars fought hard and almost managed to clinch an unlikely win but unfortunately find themselves on the losing side of this battle. They have no chance of making it to the playoffs now with just three wins under their belt, they have had a really disappointing campaign so far.

FOUR! Matt Renshaw gets the Brisbane Heat home off the last ball. Beau Webster bowls this one slower and on a length on off, Matt Renshaw moves to the off side early and ramps this one to the left of the keeper. The ball trickles towards the fine leg fence and James Seymour from short third man puts in the dive to stop the boundary but to no avail. Brisbane Heat win by 3 wickets!

Slower and fuller around off, Matt Renshaw looks to go down the ground but miscues this one high in the air towards mid off for a couple of runs. Brisbane Heat need 4 off the final ball.

Fuller at the stumps, Matt Renshaw swats this one wide of long on and collects a couple of runs. Brisbane Heat need 6 off the last two deliveries.

Three dots on the trot! Tad fuller and at the stumps, Matt Renshaw swipes across the line but gets an inside edge that rolls to short fine leg for a dot.

On a length outside off, Matt Renshaw tries to slog across the line but misses.

Back of a length around off, Matt Renshaw gets down to scoop this one on the leg side but the ball gets big on him and gets a top edge that falls to the left of the keeper.

WIDE! Not the start Melbourne Stars wanted in this final over! Beau Webster bowls this on a length but down the leg side, Matt Renshaw gets inside to paddle this one on the leg side but misses. The umpire signals a wide.

Adam Zampa pulls off a surprise and gives Beau Webster the opportunity to bowl the last over. This is a massive call as Luke Wood still has one more over left in his kitty.

Swing and a miss! Liam Hatcher bowls this one fuller and angling into the batter from 'round the wicket, Matthew Kuhnemann moves to the leg side to go through covers but connects with thin air. Brisbane Heat need 9 off the last over.

Short and outside off, Matt Renshaw stands tall and cuts this one hard to deep cover for a single.

Fullish delivery around off, Matthew Kuhnemann stays inside and drives this one towards deep cover for a single.