HEA VS THU MATCH 25

Right then, yet another fascinating game in the Big Bash League and the table is starting to take shape with a lot of teams vying for those playoff places. Up next is match 26 where Perth Scorchers will be taking on Melbourne Renegades at the Perth Stadium on Tuesday, January 7. That game will begin at 8.15 am GMT but you can join us a lot sooner for the build-up. Cheers!

Max Bryant is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his stunning knock of 72 runs off 35 balls. Max says that he and Matt Renshaw had to change things up after the drinks break. Adds that they were clear about what to do and that helped them. Mentions that these are the moments you dream about and they just back themselves to get the job done. Ends by saying that it was not an easy task but with this kind of crowd support, anything is possible.

The Presentation ceremony...

Early in the game, Brisbane Heat won the toss and put Sydney Thunder into bat. The Thunder began decently with the bat and seemed to be going strong after the halfway mark but couldn't keep wickets in hand. David Warner anchored their innings with a steady fifty but Spencer Johnson and co kept picking wickets and managed to keep the Thunder to 173 runs despite a late flourish from Dan Christian. In reply, Heat managed to turn around a huge deficit thanks to a stellar showing from Max Bryant and Matt Renshaw to notch up their third win of the season.

Sydney Thunder came into this contest on a high in terms of results but lost a couple of big players due to a collision and that meant, Dan Christian had to come out of retirement and he certainly showed that he can still be a useful asset with both bat and ball. Thunder bowled really well in the first 10 overs, keeping the scoring rate in check and picking up wickets as well but it seemed like they were totally unprepared for that early Power Surge. Wes Agar was simply hammered all over the ground and the likes of Lockie Ferguson and Chris Green also failed to reduce the damage.

The teams traded a few punches at the start of the chase but soon enough, Sydney Thunder had the wickets in the bag and Brisbane Heat had to just try and find their way into the contest. The Heat were reeling at 50/3 at the halfway stage after a decent start by skipper Colin Munro and they needed to take a big risk. Matt Renshaw and Max Bryant took the Surge right after the drinks break and what followed was total annihilation of the opposition bowling attack. The pair picked up 32 runs in the Surge and made it 48 runs in three overs and just kept on pressing. Overall, it was a 108-run stand before Bryant walked back after making 72 off just 35 balls as Renshaw stayed on and saw his side over the line with 7 balls remaining.

THE RESPONSE OF CHAMPIONS! After a string of three straight defeats and a washed-out contest, Brisbane Heat have come alive at the Gabba and might have just turned the tide in their underwhelming season so far. Sydney Thunder on the other hand though, suffer just a second defeat of the season but stay firmly in second place on the table.

WINNING RUNS! Back of a length from Wes Agar, on off, nips back in sharply. Michael Neser stays back and dabs it towards point for a single. Brisbane Heat win by 5 wickets!

DROPPED! SCORES LEVEL! Wes Agar goes short again and on middle, this one shoots up a bit. Michael Neser goes for the pull again but gets a top edge. The ball goes miles in the air behind mid-wicket. Lockie Ferguson runs backwards and dives but he never really looked like taking the catch. Double taken.

FOUR! SMASHED! Wes Agar bangs this one short and around middle. Michael Neser gets on top of it nicely and heaves it between deep square leg and deep mid-wicket for a boundary. Just 3 needed now!

Michael Neser makes his way out to bat now.

OUT! TAKEN! Wes Agar responds well here! He hits the length hard and around middle, takes off a bit. Tom Alsop looks to work it away but closes the bat face early. The ball takes the leading edge and loops up towards covers where Lockie Ferguson makes no mistake. Brisbane Heat lose half their side now, still needing 7 off 10 balls!

OUT! TAKEN! Wes Agar responds well here! He hits the length hard and around middle, takes off a bit. Tom Alsop looks to work it away but closes the bat face early. The ball takes the leading edge and loops up towards covers where Lockie Ferguson makes no mistake. Brisbane Heat lose half their side now, still needing 7 off 10 balls!

SIX! Oh..what a shot! The debutant showing his skills here! Wes Agar lands this on a good length and on middle and leg. Tom Alsop picks up the length early and absolutely hammers it away over the deep square leg fence for a biggie. 7 needed in 11 now!

Follows it up with a fine yorker, on middle, Matt Renshaw digs it back to the bowler. Two dots to end the over. Brisbane Heat need 13 runs in 12 balls now!

A quick and sharp bouncer from Dan Christian, on middle, Matt Renshaw looks to pull but misses.

Back of a length and off, Tom Alsop steers it to point for one.