BBL: Brisbane Heat must beat Melbourne Renegades to keep their season alive

It’s crunch time for Brisbane Heat in their bid to remain alive in this season’s BBL.

Max Bryant and the Brisbane Heat need to beat the Renegades to keep their finals ‘ hopes alive. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

Brisbane Heat’s BBL season is on the line at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.

Lose to the last-placed Melbourne Renegades, and the Heat can start planning for next season.

Even a win may not be enough for Brisbane to play in this season’s finals but victory will at least keep them in contention heading into their final game of the regular season against the Perth Scorchers on Tuesday at Adelaide Oval.

The Heat won’t receive any favours from the Renegades, who made it their mission to spoil the finals’ hopes of other teams when their own chance of finishing in the top five ended last weekend.

They were true to their word in upsetting the Stars in the midweek Melbourne derby, and they now have Brisbane in their sights.

Heat pair Marnus Labuschagne (left) and Chris Lynn hope to fire against the Melbourne Renegades. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

“They’re a dangerous side,” Heat coach Darren Lehmann said of the Renegades.

“They’ve got some young exciting players as well so we have to watch them and keep them quiet.

“It’s about starting well and getting the result going our way earlier rather than later, and not having to fight our way back into the game.”

The Heat were thrashed on Thursday night by the Adelaide Strikers at the Adelaide Oval.

Inspired by a century from Alex Carey, the Strikers made 5-197 off their 20 overs.

In reply, the Heat were bowled out for just 115 in 17.3 overs.

“If we just get back to the basics, do them well ... things will go our way,” Lehmann said.

“It’s very clear what we need to do and get better at, obviously in all areas.

“We’ve been scrapping really well throughout the tournament, and it’s now time to do it again and get in front of the game.”

Lehmann said the Heat would not get distracted by picking up a crucial bonus point on Saturday to turn a potential win from three points into four.

“We had to win two from three before (the loss to the Strikers) anyway to get in (the finals), so we’ve just got to get back to winning ways, worrying about winning the game first and foremost, and we’ll hopefully pick up the bonus point along the way,” he said.

Originally published as BBL: Brisbane Heat must beat Melbourne Renegades to keep their season alive