BRISBANE HEAT have maintained their undefeated record in BBL|13 after downing the Sydney Sixers via DLS Method last night. In what was a top of the table clash, the Heat were hauled past the par score as English allrounder Paul Walter smashed two fours from what would be the last three balls of the game.

A double downpour in Coffs Harbour saw the Heat’s chase initially reduced to 17 overs with a revised target of 124, before being called off with the victors seven runs ahead of the DLS par score. At the first rain delay, they were behind by two runs and required 44 off the last 30 deliveries to win conventionally.

Brisbane had won the bat flip and sent Sydney in, with the Sixers stuttering to 8-141 off a full allotment of 20 overs. Opener Josh Philippe (41 off 36) and captain Moises Henriques (22 off 22) put together the only meaningful partnership, adding 47 together before some late hitting from Jack Edwards (22 off 15).

While Philippe came undone at the hands of Walter, Henriques was sent on his way via a brilliant bit of fielding from Heat bowler Michael Neser. The bustling seamer threw the stumps down twice in as many balls, with the second proving decisive in what was Henriques’ record 100th game as Sixers captain.

Come the chase, Sydney was uncharacteristically sloppy and granted Heat opener Josh Brown a pair of lives en route to his game-high knock of 43 (31). The big hitting opener was first dropped by Kurtis Patterson in the deep, before Tom Curran put down a dolly in his return game.

Last night was a baptism of fire for Curran on the back of his four-game suspension. He managed just three runs with the bat and was teed off on by Brown for a couple of big sixes, amid two overs which yielded no wickets and leaked 19 runs.

Stephen O’Keefe took the fielders out of the equation by skittling Brown in the eighth over. With Matt Renshaw and Sam Billings removed swiftly, it was left to Walter (23* off 15) and Nathan McSweeney (22* off 25) to guide Brisbane home under altered circumstances.

The game-winning batting pair was somewhat of an unlikely one, having narrowly avoided a head-on collision during the Heat’s bowling inning. McSweeney bravely gloved a high ball with Walter charging out the other way off his own bowling, nearly taking out his teammate in the process.

All’s well that ends well, though, and the Heat remains undefeated after seven games with five wins to their name. Sydney sits third on three wins and with a positive net run rate, with the top four beginning to take shape at just over halfway in the tournament’s regular season fixture.

Meanwhile, over in Perth, the Scorchers also maintained their undefeated status with a 42-run win over Adelaide Strikers at Perth Stadium. The home side was sent in to bat and posted a whopping 4-211 on the back of fireworks from English import Laurie Evans.

The number five batter posted 85* off just 28 deliveries, securing his side’s fastest ever half-century and going at a strike rate of over 300. The likes of Aaron Hardie (34 off 30), Sam Whiteman (31 off 21), and Josh Inglis (26 off 19) were also steady contributors to the mammoth total.

In response to conceding yet another score of over 200, the Strikers mustered a respectable 169 as star opener Matt Short top-scored with 74 (44). Firebrand quick Lance Morris was the star of the inning though, collecting his maiden BBL five-wicket haul at exactly a run-a-ball over his four overs.

Perth has now jumped the Sixers into second place, with the streaking Melbourne Stars rounding out the top four. Adelaide, one of three teams languishing with a single win, is now bottom of the ladder. Tonight’s sole game sees Melbourne Renegades host Hobart Hurricanes at Marvel Stadium.

SCORECARD

RESULT: Brisbane Heat won by 3 runs via DLS Method.
POTM: Paul Walter (Brisbane Heat)
BAT FLIP: Brisbane Heat won and elected to bowl.

KEY PLAYERS

Sydney Sixers:
Josh Philippe 41 (36), Jack Edwards 22 (15), Moises Henriques 22 (22)
Ben Dwarshius 1-7 (2), Jack Edwards 1-16 (3), Stephen O’Keefe 1-20 (3)

Brisbane Heat:
Matt Kuhnemann 2-19 (4), Paul Walter 2-25 (3), Mitch Swepson 1-26 (4)
Josh Brown 43 (31), Paul Walter 23* (15), Nathan McSweeney 22* (25)

INNINGS BREAKDOWN

Power Play (1-4)
Sixers: 0-23
Heat: 1-21

Halfway (10)
Sixers: 2-62
HeatL 3-70

Power Surge
Sixers (16-17): 1-19
Heat: N/A

Totals
Sixers: 8-141 (20)
Heat: 4-104 (14.3)