BBL final: Brisbane Heat claim title against Sydney Sixers at the SCG as Spencer Johnson takes four wickets
Josh Brown and Matt Renshaw saw the Brisbane Heat to a competitve total in the BBL Decider, before Spencer Johnson ripped through the Sixers to give the Heat the BBL crown.
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Queensland’s dominance over New South Wales has carried over to the BBL with the Brisbane Heat avenging last year’s heartbreaking loss in Perth with a dominant 54-run win over the Sydney Sixers in front of a record crowd at the SCG.
The most dominant team of the regular season may have been missing some of their biggest stars to the Test side and the ILT20, but they showed true Queensland underdog spirit to flip the script after they lost to the men in magenta last week to surrender home ground advantage.
Wednesday’s win in front of a whopping 43,153 on a sultry night in Sydney was their second BBL title and first in 11 years after falling at the final hurdle 12 months ago.
Things couldn’t have started any worse when they lost Jimmy Peirson in the first over, but an 85-run partnership for the second wicket steadied the ship before some late fireworks in the power surge lifted them to a competitive 8/166.
The Heat lost five wickets in the final two overs, but some lusty late blows by Matt Renshaw – who could find himself in the Test side if Cameron Green is ruled out with Covid – helped the visitors finish with a late flurry of boundaries as Sean Abbott claimed four wickets for the hosts.
SICK AND SORRY
He tested positive to Covid on Monday, and the vibes around the SCG were only negative on Wednesday night the moment Moises Henriques was sent packing in the run chase.
The Sixers skipper did an interview with Fox Cricket before the game where he explained how he had tested positive earlier in the week but was feeling better heading into his seventh final.
The virus has wreaked havoc in the Test side with Travis Head falling ill before coach Andrew McDonald and Cameron Green tested positive.
The Sixers needed something special from their captain after they slumped to 4-57, but for once he was unable to deliver on the big stage, dismissed by Paul Walter for a scratchy 25.
Henriques didn’t take part in the pre-game team photo and skipped the bat flip, with Dan Hughes surprisingly electing to bowl first given the men in magenta have become masters at defending at home.
CHAMPION TEAM
There are plenty of teams of champions in the BBL, but it’s the ones with a strong culture and guys able to chip in at any given moment who have proven to be the real winners.
The Heat were without Sam Billings, Colin Munro, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne but still had four of their top five reach 29 before their bowlers took over.
Spencer Johnson doesn’t just boast a head of hair that most middle-aged men covet, but he also happens to be one of the country’s finest bowlers with his 4-26 justifying his monster IPL deal.
He had plenty of support with Brisbane’s spin twins strangling the Sixers in the middle overs.
🆠#HEATWIN#BBLFinals#BBL13pic.twitter.com/PenTDx8sa1
— Brisbane Heat (@HeatBBL) January 24, 2024
FIVE STAR REVIEW
It might be awards season in America but the Sixers produced a five-star review of their own to momentarily swing momentum their way in the final with the big wicket of Josh Brown.
The big-hitting opener was again the chief destroyer but he had plenty of luck in his knock of 53 off 38, with Brown put down by Ben Dwarshuis on three and then by Jordan Silk on 28.
Two days after he blasted the equal second-fastest century in competition history, Brown and skipper Nathan McSweeney (33 off 32) settled the innings before they were both dismissed in the space of three deliveries.
Brown’s luck ran out when he was trapped in front by Steve O’Keefe who delivered one final moment of magic in his last game in magenta.
After initially being given not out, O’Keefe convinced Henriques to challenge the decision, with replays showing the ball flicked Brown on the pad before he hit it.
CIRCUS CATCH
Michael Neser has produced some of the craziest moments in the field over the years, and he had one last trick up his sleeve for the final.
The Heat all-rounder had everyone at the SCG glued to the big screen when he slid back to take a catch and then contorted his body like a gymnast to avoid the rope before he flicked the ball to teammate Paul Walter to send Abbott on his way.
AS IT HAPPENED: Read how the BBL final unfolded below
10.10PM: JOHNSON TAKES HIS FOURTH
A few hours ago, Sean Abbott was the first man to take four wickets in a Big Bash final. He’s been joined by Spencer Johnson, who’s taken the wicket of Hayden Kerr caught and bowled after a pull shot came off the splice.
He’s finished with 4-26 and this gfame is just about wrapped up with the Sixers needed 72 from 30.
Official crowd: 43,153
— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) January 24, 2024
Breaks the record for a Big Bash crowd at the SCG that was set at the Sixers' last home game. #BBL13https://t.co/jCqeXlZbSO
10.05PM: DAVIES CAUGHT ON THE FENCE
Joel Davies hit a beautiful maximum and then creamed a switch hit for four, but two balls later was caught on the fence off Swepson.
The Heat are pumped, too.
Hayden Kerr has made his way back out to the middle for the Sixers.
Score is at 7-86 with six overs to go and still 81 needed at 13.5 runs an over.
9.59PM: KERR RETIRES HURT
Hayden Kerr has walked off the SCG, retired hurt it seems like.
The all-rounder pulled up awkwardly after a final hit in the 11th over.
Ben Dwarshuis walked out to the middle and skied a Spencer Johnson delivery straight to short third man, with the Sixers effectively 7-73 with 7.4 overs to go.
9.52PM: MOISES SKIES ONE
You’d think this game is now the Heat’s to lose after skipper Moises Henriques skied one off Tall Paul Walter in the power play the delivery after whacking one for six over cover.
The Sixers are now 5-71 with just more than eight overs left.
Tall Paul so pumped he almost forgot to aeroplane 🤣#bbl13
— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) January 24, 2024
9.41PM: JIMMY PEARSON!
Stumped! Jordan Silk has fallen over himself coming forward to a beautifully flighted Mitch Swepson delivery for a four-ball duck and the Heat are in a dominant position against the Sixers at the SCG.
Sixers are 4-57 at the drinks break, off 9.2 overs.
They need 110 runs in 64 balls.
9.40PM: PHILLIPE SKIES ONE AND GOES
It’s been as quiet as a 20 minute patch could be in a T20 game, with Moises Henriques and Josh Phillipe ambling along at about a run a ball.
The two batters were set, but just as Phillipe looked set to pick up the pace he skied a Spencer Johnson delievery into the safe hands of Michael Neser.
Sixers are 3-56 from nine overs, with two wickets for Johnson.
9.20PM: SPENCER GETS THE LAST LAUGH
Spencer Johnson has got back at Jack Edwards, with the Sixers taking the left-armer for 13 off his first over before he pulled his final ball back of a length for Jack Edwards to chop on.
Josh Phillipe is in the middle on 15 off 12 alongside skipper Moises Henriques, with the score 2-34 off four overs.
9.05PM: DANGER MAN STRIKES IN THE FIRST OVER
Is there anything Michael Neser can’t do?
(Well, aside from score runs in the first innings of this match.)
He’s taken the wicket of Daniel Hughes off just the third ball to send a hushed silence ringing around a full SCG, with the Sixers 1-6 off the first over, despite two wides.
Matt Renshaw took a very safe catch at first slip.
8.45PM: THE SIXERS NEED 167 RUNS TO WIN
The Sydney Sixers need 167 runs to claim their fourth BBL title, but they made life tougher than it needed to be with a couple of costly drops in the outfield helping the Heat post a more than competitive total at the SCG.
After failing to defend 175 in last year’s decider, Brisbane’s bowlers will fancy their chances on a tricky deck that has proved difficult for chasing teams this season.
Josh Brown was again the chief destroyer but he had plenty of luck in his knock of 53 off 38, with the big-hitting opener put down by Ben Dwarshuis on three and then by Jordan Silk on 28.
Two days after he blasted the equal second-fastest century in competition history, Brown and skipper Nathan McSweeney (33 off 32) settled the innings before they were both dismissed in the space of three deliveries.
It might be awards season in America but the Sydney Sixers produced a five-star review of their own to swing momentum their way in the final with skipper Moises Henriques brushing aside a positive Covid test to overturn a negative umpiring decision.
Brown’s luck ran out when he was trapped in front by Steve O’Keefe who delivered one final moment of magic in his last game in magenta.
After initially being given not out, O’Keefe convinced Henriques to challenge the decision, with replays showing the ball flicked Brown on the pad before he hit it.
The roar around the SCG was something you usually hear during State of Origin, with O’Keefe’s 99th BBL wicket the perfect way to end an incredible career.
The Heat lost five wickets in the final two overs, but some lusty late blows by Matt Renshaw – who could find himself in the Test side if Cameron Green is ruled out with Covid – helped the visitors finish with a late flurry of boundaries.
The Heat lost 4-9 in a stretch, following on from the 5-15 at the tail end of their innings against the Strikers.
Sean Abbott is also the first man to take four wickets in a Big Bash final.
8.40PM: POWERPLAY DONE AND DUSTED
Brisbane Heat have taken 19 runs off the power play in Sydney, but it’s come at the cost of three wickets. Sean Abbott dismissed Max Bryant after the right hander slapped him straight to long off, before taking the wickets of Paul Walter and then danger man Michael Neser in consecutive deliveries.
He recorded figures of 3-6 off his final over, with one over to go and the heat on 6-153.
8.25PM: HEAT IN A HOLE
New Heat batters Max Bryant and Matty Renshaw haven’t been able to get a wriggle on to build on the side’s hot start.
The pair had added 24 in 23 balls before Bryant whacked a four and then a monster six off Sean Abbott to bring the heat to 3-134 at the end of 17 overs.
26 runs off the next 22 balls after Josh Brown went lbw.
— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) January 24, 2024
That review could be so decisive. #bbl13
8.05PM - SIXERS STRIKE
Brisbane Heat skipper Nathan McSweeney has holed out to deep backward square for 33 off 31.
McSweeney had been looking good in support of Brown, but tried to sink a ball into the crowd and was well caught on the rope by Todd Murphy.
It looked like Brisbane’s Josh Brown was set to bat them out of the contest when he raced to 50 having survived a couple of tough chances in the outfield, but his luck ran out when he was trapped in front by Steve O’Keefe who delivered one final moment of magic in his last game in magenta.
After initially being given not out, O’Keefe convinced skipper Moises Henriques to challenge the decision, with replays showing the ball flicked Brown on the pad before he hit it.
The roar around the SCG was something you usually hear during State of Origin, with the Sixers looking to salvage some NSW pride against a Heat side that has raced to 3/97 after 13 overs.
The replay showed the ball hitting the pad on the way through to the bat, overturning the on-field not-out call.
O’Keefe has 99 BBL wickets in his career.
7.55PM - BROWN GOES BANG TO BRING UP 50
Josh Brown has hit back-to-back sixes off Hayden Kerr to motor along to 50 off 32 in the Big Bash decider.
Brown was scratchy early but has now fired up, and made his way to a half century.
Nathan McSweeney is ably supporting him at the other end with 27 off 24 as we bring up the 10 over mark.
How big can he go?
7:40PM - HAS BEN DWARSHUIS DROPPED THE BIG BASHES?
Sixers fielders would have been psyching themselves up for the past 48 hours to catch anything Josh Brown hit their way, but they failed at the first attempt with the left-arm quick spilling a tough chance in the outfield.
Just days after he whacked the equal second-fastest century in BBL history, Brown struggled to get going on a slow deck at the SCG.
The Heat opener was three off 10 when he whipped Jack Edwards to the leg-side boundary where Dwarshuis came forward but couldn’t hold on.
The ball trickled to the boundary and was the reprieve he needed with Brown letting loose the following over with a six and a four to help the visitors recover after they lost Jimmy Peirson in the opening over.
7:20PM - SIXERS RISK PAYS OFF EARLY
A gutsy decision to bowl first has paid off with the Sixers striking in an action-packed over to leave the Brisbane Heat on the back foot.
After surviving first ball when an edge landed just short of Josh Philippe, Jimmy Peirson continued to ride his luck when he slashed a short ball past Hayden Kerr who got a hand to it.
But the opener’s luck ran out with Sean Abbott finding the outside edge to leave the visitors 1/5 with big-hitting Josh Brown still at the crease.
EARLIER: HENRIQUES NAMES DESPITE TESTING POSITIVE
Sydney Sixers skipper Moises Henriques has confirmed he’ll isolate in a separate change room for the BBL final after the club revealed he had tested positive to Covid on Monday.
The veteran all-rounder did media at the SCG on Tuesday afternoon and spoke to reporters for more than 18 minutes before he took photos with Heat captain Nathan McSweeney who knew he was sick.
Some concerns have been raised with how the Sixers and Cricket NSW delayed announcing Henriques’ positive Covid test for almost 48 hours.
The pre-match press conference on Tuesday had at least a dozen media members in attendance, all in proximity to Henriques despite his positive test.
However, Cricket NSW is adamant that duty of care was adhered to as social distancing was maintained and the press conference took place outside.
“Sydney Sixers captain Moises Henriques tested positive to Covid on Monday and as a result has had modified contact with others since,” the club wrote in a statement just hours before Wednesday’s final.
“Sixers players and staff, the Brisbane Heat, match officials and broadcast/media have been informed so they can determine appropriate action. Henriques is in no doubt to take his place in the KFC BBL|13 Final.”
Covid has been running rampant in the Australian team this week with Travis Head dealing with the virus, before Cricket Australia revealed on Wednesday that coach Andrew McDonald and Cameron Green had also tested positive.
Henriques hit 59 against the Heat on Friday to help the Sixers qualify for a seventh BBL final, with the competition’s most-capped captain getting close to returning to full health.
He spoke to Fox Cricket an hour before the game on Wednesday night but kept his distance from the panel members.
“I knew there was a reason I was struggling to come back for two the past couple of games,” he joked, with Dan Hughes replacing him at the bat flip.
“I got tested at the end of last game and tested positive, but I’ve actually been starting to feel better the past couple of days so hopefully I’ll be able to come back for a couple of twos tonight.
“In terms of tonight, I’ve got a separate change room to the rest of the team.
“I probably feel better than I did the past two nights so maybe the horse has bolted a little bit.
“Hopefully our boys get through tonight okay and I haven’t infected any of the team or the staff over the past couple of games.
“Thankfully for the vaccinations and all this new-age technology and all that where we’re able to play rather than get locked up for two weeks.”
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Originally published as BBL final: Brisbane Heat claim title against Sydney Sixers at the SCG as Spencer Johnson takes four wickets
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