The Brisbane Heat have achieved ‘Mission Impossible’ to keep their BBL|15 finals hopes alive on Wednesday night, defeating the Hobart Hurricanes by three runs in a final-over thriller.
After posting a modest target of 161, the home side’s defence was dealt a significant blow when rival batter Ben McDermott was dropped twice on the boundary inside the first half of Hobart’s chase.
The only place to stream every match of the 2025/26 KFC BBL LIVE is on FOX CRICKET, available on Kayo Sports. | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
It was power-hitter Max Bryant who gave the white-ball batter a life on 1 and again on 38 in the deep, in two mistakes that looked likely to cost the visitors one last surge towards finals.
“You’ve got to take your chances, we talk about it all the time … with only 160 runs on the board — even if it’s a half chance — you’ve got to take them,” former Australian fast bowler Brendon Julian said on Fox Cricket.
Australian great Mark Waugh added: “This is not a half-chance, that’s a sitter (when) McDermott was early in his innings.
“This (second catch) was a tougher one, he got there though. You’ve got to hang onto one of those two, Maxy Bryant.”
But after McDermott and Australian Test star Beau Webster departed for 58 and 51 respectively, the door slowly opened back up for Brisbane.
Heat win ‘Miracle’ game | 00:23
MATCH CENTRE:Hurricanes vs. Heat final scorecard, stats and more
At 4/150 and just 11 runs required off their final 13 balls, the ladder-leaders lost 4/6 to lose the unloseable; courtesy of two excellent overs at the death from Zaman Khan (1/29) and Xavier Bartlett (3/44).
Khan’s clutch final over took the Heat from improbable to almost-certain winners on the penultimate ball of the match, with Nikhil Chaudhary skying a ball to deep mid-wicket that left No.10 batter Riley Meredith needing a six off the final ball to see the hosts home.
“How did that happen? How on earth did that happen?” Waugh exclaimed post-game.
“The Hurricanes were absolutely cruising when Matthew Wade and (Nikhil) Chaudhary were batting. They took their foot off the pedal, they took it for granted that they were going to win the game … they’ve (Brisbane) won the impossible game there.”
McSweeney almost claims Catch of Summer | 00:34
A critical save in the outfield from Matt Renshaw when the game was seemingly dead and buried also looked to prove the difference.
Deep on the boundary rope, the Test opener prevented a certain six by throwing the ball back into play as he fell over the boundary rope. While his ‘catch’ didn’t result in a wicket, it did save five runs that proved pivotal in the end.
Earlier in the evening, Nathan McSweeney and Matt Renshaw were the best with the bat for Brisbane, with the former falling one run short of a half-century of his own.
Pace duo Riley Meredith and Nathan Ellis took five wickets between them for the Hurricanes, while Bangladeshi spinner Rishad Hossain continued his solid campaign with figures of 2/27 from four overs.
Incredible Yorker from Meredith | 00:43
Brisbane’s loss means they can no longer qualify for the all-important top four, having needed to win both of their remaining matches heading into their match at Ninja Stadium.
‘FUNKY’ CHANGE FROM WORKING METHOD THAT OPENED DOOR FOR COLLAPSE
Seasoned campaigners Nathan McSweeney and Matt Renshaw steadied the Brisbane Heat’s ship with a quick-fire 64-run partnership for the third wicket during the middle overs, but their downfall proved to be an “opening” for the reigning premiers on Wednesday night.
After half a dozen boundaries between them, the duo went 23 balls without a boundary before Renshaw’s innings came to a close with a hard hit to deep cover off the bowling of Rishad Hossain.
“They batted beautifully. Nathan McSweeney came out of the blocks so quickly (with) good orthodox batting,” Waugh said on Fox Cricket during the innings break.
“Renshaw as usual was very hard to bowl to. He’s such an unorthodox player (and) got great leverage to hit it to any part of the ground.
“They just had a little period there before Renshaw got out where they slowed up a bit (and) started to get a bit funky… but that was the key partnership.”
Haddin added: “At the start of that partnership, it was all about timing and placement. But then, they got a bit cute — they tried to use the ramp shot and change the way they were playing.
“That was the opening the Hurricanes needed … that’s when the collapse started. It was off the back of some different batting when they had the game right there to dominate.”
‘KEEP HIM AWAY!’: GREAT’S CALL TO WRAP STAR IMPORT IN COTTON WOOL
Intrigue surrounds the fitness of English import Chris Jordan, after the Hobart import left the field during the first innings with an ankle concern.
The 37-year-old veteran bowled economically for his first three overs, conceding just 19 runs with no wickets to show for his efforts.
But at the end of the 17th over, Jordan pulled up lamely after bowling the last delivery of his third over. It saw him stay on the field for a further three balls, but he ultimately had to go off the field in discomfort.
“He rolled his ankle at the end of the first innings, and has been receiving medical treatment during the innings break,” Fox Cricket reporter Eloise Sohier said boundary-side during the Hurricanes’ run chase.
“It’s a bit of a watch-and-wait situation, but he’s supposed to come in at No.8.”
Brad Haddin added: “Keep him away from this game, only if they desperately need it.”
Jordan was required at No.8 with the bat, but lasted just two balls amid his side’s horror collapse before departing for a duck.
Chris Jordan leaves the field in discomfort after rolling his ankle late in the Brisbane Heat’s innings.Source: FOX SPORTS
Hobart Hurricanes XI: Mitchell Owen, Tim Ward, Beau Webster, Ben McDermott, Nikhil Chaudhary, Matthew Wade (wk), Rehan Ahmed, Chris Jordan, Nathan Ellis (c), Rishad Hossain, Riley Meredith
Brisbane Heat XI: Usman Khawaja (c), Jack Wildermuth, Nathan McSweeney, Matt Renshaw, Max Bryant, Marnus Labuschagne, Jimmy Peirson (wk), Michael Neser, Xavier Barlett, Matt Kuhnemann, Zaman Khan
Re-live our coverage of Hurricanes vs. Heat in our blog below! Can’t see the blog?Click here