Match Center

Right then, that is it from match number 32 and Brisbane Heat have sealed a home final and we could potentially see a repeat of this clash pretty soon but not if other teams have their say. The action continues on 11 January, Thursday as Hobart Hurricanes take on Adelaide Strikers at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart. That game will begin at 1.45 pm IST (8.15 am GMT) but you can join us a lot sooner for the build-up. Cheers!

Michael Neser is the Player of the Match for his brilliant all-round performance but especially his plunders with the bat. He starts off by saying he is happy with his contribution with the bat over his bowling and fielding contributions because he hasn't gotten a lot of runs. He further adds that once the ball got soft it was a beautiful wicket to bat on with great value for the shots played. He further talks about his catch and the numb celebration and says he was nervous about his bowling that was to come in a couple of overs next and didn't focus a lot on the celebration.

The Presentation ceremony...

Earlier in the game, Usman Khawaja won the toss and opted to bat first on a wicket that looked to have even bounce and carry. The Heat skipper started off aggressively but was soon dismissed as his opening partner fell too. It was then a riveting knock from Marnus Labuschagne and a fiery 80-run stand between Sam Billings and Michael Neser that changed the complexion of the game. Neser finished unbeaten on 64 off just 30 balls and took his side to a big total. Unfortunately for Perth Scorchers, both their frontline pacers went for plenty in the game but the likes of Lance Morris, Ashton Agar and Hamish McKenzie bowled well. Coming to the chase, the Scorchers always seemed second best and even when they got a real sniff, they simply couldn't convert it.

Perth Scorchers have been outclassed in this game first with that devastating counter attack from Sam Billings and Michael Neser with the bat and now by a formidable bowling attack. They didn't get off to the best of starts as Zak Crawley found it difficult to time the ball and Sam Whiteman had to force his shots. Josh Inglis did look excellent in the middle order and so did Laurie Evans and the pair brought life back into the chase. Inglis though got dismissed in the Surge and after that it was only Evans who was raking in the runs and all the others who came in, got out soon after. But even Evans fell left in the game after notching up a fifty and the Scorchers suffered their second defeat of the campaign.

What a game we have witnessed between the top two sides of the competition but it is Brisbane Heat who have remained unbeaten and have sealed the top spot in the group stages which means the reigning champions can only finish as high as the second spot. Brisbane Heat had the runs on the board and had the attack to defend it as well but it wasn't all that simple. They got a great start as they didn't let the Scorchers' openers get away and picked up a couple of wickets as well in the first six overs. They picked up another wicket after which they faced a bit of resistance but Spencer Johnson came back in the Power Surge and dismissed Josh Inglis which gave them the upper hand. The runs flowed a bit but the wickets just kept on coming and all of their four pacers finished on two wickets each, rounding off another solid bowling display.

OUT! BOWLED'EM! You miss I hit! And Xavier Bartlett finishes off in style. He executes another yorker perfectly straight to the middle and leg line, Jhye Richardson is absolutely clueless to negotiate that one and fails to get his bat down in time. The ball crashes into the stumps and the hosts Brisbane Heat win by 23 runs. What a humdinger!

Beauty of a delivery right in the block hole! Xavier Bartlett pitches this full and into the stumps, Jason Behrendorff does well to block it on the full as the ball rolls past the off stump. The batters get a quick single.

Jason Behrendorff is the next man in.

OUT! BOWLED! Cleaned him up! Xavier Bartlett executes a perfect yorker straight at the middle stump, Hamish McKenzie backs away to create some room but fails to carve it out and the ball disrupts the sticks in a blink. The leading wicket taker in the competition continues to impress here.

Just back of a length, outside off, Hamish McKenzie hangs back and pulls it to long one for another couple of runs.

Fuller into the stumps with no pace, Hamish McKenzie makes room and wacks it to deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

Starts well. Pitched on a hard length, around middle and leg, Jhye Richardson tries to pull it square on the on side but fails to connect. The ball hits his pads and they pinch a leg bye.

Xavier Bartlett (3-0-24-0) to bowl the final over and he has to defend 29 runs.

Short of a length which angles across the batter, Jhye Richardson is rooted deep in the crease and clears his front foot and hits it towards long on for a single to end the over.

Slower, shorter and outside off, Hamish McKenzie works it towards deep square leg for a single.

Back of a length and wide outside off, Jhye Richardson swings the bat hard and hits it to the off side, Marnus Labuschagne at patrolling the deep cover region dives to save an important run for his team. He has been a busy person in the deep tonight.