Josh Brown has blasted the Brisbane Heat to their second KFC BBL title to break the hearts of 43,153 home fans with a 54-run demolition of the Sydney Sixers at the SCG. Brisbane Heat displayed a never to say attitude throughout the tournament as it was a collective effort from all of the players.
The big-hitting opener backed up his record-breaking 57-ball 140 with another quickfire half-century at the top of the order aided by Left-arm sensation Spencer Johnson (4-26) then sunk the Sixers to their fourth loss in a men’s Big Bash final with the best ever figures in a decider to deliver the Brisbane Heat their first championship in 11 years, becoming just the third club after the Sixers and Perth Scorchers with multiple men’s Big Bash crowns.
For the record the last time Brisbane Heat won this elusive title Coach Darren Lehmann was the part of the squad. However it took all round effort from the fielding and the bowling to restrict the ever consistent team in Sydney Sixers at their Home ground . Sydney Sixers is the second most successful franchise in the Big Bash league with three titles to their names behind the most successful franchise Perth Scorchers who won the elusive title 5 times overall.
Pitch and Toss
The Sydney Cricket ground pitch home ground for the the Sydney Sixers in their seventh appearance in the finals was on the slower side with spinners getting the turn and advantage on the dry looking pitch. The assistance to the bowlers meant that the score around 155-160 was defendable on this ground.
The Sydney Sixers who were the first team to reach the finals courtesy their bowling unit which comprised of Ben Dwarshuis, Sean Abbott and Jack Edwards all being among the wickets, while Stuart O’Keefe playing his last BBL match of the career has always bowled economically. They also have a proven winner and captain in Moises Henriques won the toss and opted to field in front of their home support.
The Brisbane Heats on the other hand who had reached the finals by playing the challengers however pose a formidable threat with their bowling as well. They have the leading wicket-taker of the tournament in Xavier Bartlett, and Spencer Johnson has also been amongst the wickets in this competition. Josh Brown scored a spellbinding century in the previous game and was looking forward to carry the form in final match too. Brisbane Heat who were put to bat first made one change replacing Charlie Wakim with experienced Mitchell Swepson.
Cautious Start but Josh Browns stoic 53 and 85 runs partnership with captain Nathan McSweeney sees Brisbane Heat at respectable 90 for 1 after 10 overs .
After Hughes stepped in for Henriques at the toss to start the evening due to a bout of Covid and inserted the Heat, Abbott struck with the fifth ball of the night to remove Jimmy Peirson (4) who was again asked to open after the visitors recalled Swepson for Charlie Wakim.
It was cautious start from Brown and McSweeney, with the big-hitting opener’s first eight runs coming from 13 deliveries as he got his eye in before exploding. The Heat were 1-16 at that point, but the 30-year-old right-hander got the innings moving as he crashed Hayden Kerr for a six and a four off consecutive deliveries straight after the four-over Powerplay.
Kerr (0-32 from two) was again the target a few overs later as Brown and McSweeney took 65 from the six overs, Brown passing 50 for the second time in as many innings by taking the left-armer Kerr for 18 in the 10th to help the Heat reach 1-81 at the halfway mark. Josh Brown after the hurricane hundred in the previous match showed maturity and bought his fifty of 32 balls . As things seemed to have been settled in for the Heats, Ben Dwarshuis broke the partnership post 10 overs and got Heat reeling again.
Sean Abbott’s masterful spell of 4 for 32 restricted Brisbane Heat to 166 for 8 after Matt Renshaw’s 40 of 22 balls and Max Bryant 29 of 19 threatened to take game away from sixers
Ben Dwarshuis (1-38) broke through for the Sixers with the wicket of McSweeney before retiring Sixers champion Steve O’Keefe signed off a stellar Big Bash career with the wicket of Brown (53 off 38) in his final over, as the ball brushed the opener’s back bad as he tried to force a ball into the off-side and he was given out leg-before on review. Steve O’ Keefe now finishes his BBL career with 99 wickets to his name.
O’Keefe (1-26) was honored with a standing ovation from his adoring home fans after another excellent four overs, bowing out with 99 BBL from 103 matches at an incredible economy of 6.65.Max Bryant (29 off 19) and Matthew Renshaw kept the momentum going before the BBL’s all-time leading wicket-taker and Australian pacer Sean Abbott rose to the occasion on the competition’s biggest stage.
The right-armer who had an early wicket of Jimmy Pierson in the opening burst , later grabbed three wickets to stall the Heat in the 19th over, his 4-32 restricting the total to 8-166 after Renshaw added a lusty blow on the second last ball of the innings to finish on 40 from 22 balls.
Faltered start derailed Sydney Sixer’s chase as pace Sensation Spencer Johnson created havoc in the Sixers side by taking early wickets.
It was a rocky chase from the start as Michael Neser removed Daniel Hughes (1) with the third delivery of the innings, well caught by Renshaw at slip off a beautiful delivery that seamer away from the left-hander. Jack Edwards (16) and Josh Philippe (23) attempted to get the pursuit going as Johnson conceded 13 from his first four deliveries of the night.
But from then on it was one way traffic, the Heat speedster claiming Edwards bowled with the last delivery of his first over before adding Philippe in his second as he chipped a mistimed pull shot to the mid-on. By the time at halfway stage Sydney Sixers were reeling 60 for 4 in the chase with only experienced Moises Henriques left to their rescue.
Sensational Spencer Johnson 4-26 brings glory to Brisbane Heat as they win the elusive BBL Title after 12 years defeating Sydney Sixers by 54 runs.
Recalled leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson (2-19) added the crucial wicket of Jordan Silk stumped for a duck, beating the outside of bat with a beautiful delivery that spun past the outside edge before ‘keeper Jimmy Peirson did the rest.
Spencer Johnson who was brilliant throughout the BBL season and especially this match returned back to claim two more with the air out of the Sixers chase, his four scalps taking him past teammate Xavier Bartlett (18) as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 19.Spencer Johnson (4-26) then sunk the Sixers to their fourth loss in a men’s Big Bash final with the best ever figures in a decider, eclipsing the record Sean Abbott (4-32) had set earlier in the evening.
When Englishman Paul Walter claimed Sixers skipper Moises Henriques for 25 the trophy was effectively theirs, Michael Neser putting the icing on the cake with another extraordinary outfield catch, flicking a ball behind his back to a teammate as he fell over the rope at long on.
Big Bash champion Steve O’Keefe’s stellar career ending with a first-ball duck as the Sixers were bowled out for 112, avenging their final-over loss from last season’s decider to cap off an incredible campaign where they won their first seven home-and-away games to top the standings.
Brisbane Heat who were clinical throughout the season won their second BBL title in 12 years and became the third team after Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers to hold 2 titles in the Big Bash League history.
Captain’s Views on the match
Daniel Hughes came instead of Moises Henriques who was suffering from Covid as losing captain said : Unfortunately our skipper isn’t up here. He has led us outstandingly well. We love the support of our crowd. Thanks again. Well done to the Heat boys. What can I say lads. We had an awesome year. We just couldn’t get over the line. I have enjoyed playing with O Keefe. Wonderful team mate and person. We will continue having you around. Congrats on a great career.
Winning skipper Nathan McSweeney said after the win :
“Fantastic feeling. Feels really good. Congrats to the Sixers. Congrats on a fantastic career. Unfortunately, we were at the wrong end of it. Thanks to Munro, Billings, Khawaja and Labuschagne. They weren’t here. But they did all they could. The Sydney crowd as superb as well,”
The Player of the final for his impressive 4-26 Spencer Johnson said :
“Pretty special. We wanted to make amends after last year. Nice to contribute. Credit to the Sixers. They have been awesome. Credit to the bowlers and batters. Brisbane Heat has changed my life!,”