Michael Neser inspires Brisbane Heat to second BBL final
Heat's accurate bowling and sharp fielding creates stirring upset victory against Sixers
Heat's accurate bowling and sharp fielding creates stirring upset victory against Sixers
Scorer: Chandan Duorah | Commentator: @PeterDellaPenna
10.20 pm So that's it for the Sixers this season, and that's it for the T20 career of Dan Christian. Heat advance to their second ever BBL Grand Final and do so in incredibly improbable fashion managing to win this match without Khawaja, Labuschagne, Swepson and Renshaw.
Heat captain Jimmy Peirson: "What a fantastic effort from Neser. That was a gem. [The four boundary over in the Power Surge by Neser] That was game-changing stuff. I'm so pleased they got it over the line for us. I knew all along that when we restricted them 1o 116, it was going to be tough work because the wicket was so slow. It was getting harder and harder to bat on. I knew we needed to score with the new ball and maximize that period and then we needed one person to step up and Neser did that. We're a Queensland team, and the great Queensland teams, when their backs are against the wall, they find a way to win. For a batch of guys who haven't played all year to stand up tonight was very pleasing. What a privilege to play in a packed Perth Stadium. There won't be a single teal shirt there and they're a very parochial group. They'll be all against us but we feel very privileged to play in this game. It's a tough challenge but we're up for it."
Perth Scorchers will be overwhelming favorites in the final as they seek their fifth title. For the Heat, it's just their second trip to the final, but they won it all on their previous appearance in 2013. That feels like a lifetime ago and most if not all of the current Heat squad were not a part of the previous title-winning squad a decade ago. Come back on Saturday for all the action to see who will be crowned champions of BBL 2022-23. Until then, take care!
Sixers still battling hard to make sure this isn't the last game of Dan Christian's career.
The allrounder's career came to a close with Sydney Sixers' Challenger final defeat at the SCG
Heat's accurate bowling and sharp fielding creates stirring upset victory against Sixers
They will have to overcome Sydney Sixers at the SCG if they are to reach the BBL final