New Delhi: Australia’s Big Bash League, season 13, is getting heated day by day as the race for the playoffs has started to intensify among the top teams.
Brisbane Heat, along with Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers, are way ahead of every other team in the league when it comes to chances for qualification for the playoffs, with nine, seven and six points, respectively.
In match number 16 of the season, the high-flying Brisbane Heat took on the struggling Sydney Thunders in order to solidify their top spot in the points table at The Gabba in Brisbane.
Brisbane Heat skipper Colin Munro won the toss and opted to bat first against the Thunders.
Heat suffered an early blow, as their in-form batsman and skipper Colin Munro (0) was dismissed cheaply by Gurinder Sandhu in the first over itself.
However, Josh Brown (39) and Nathan Mcsweeney (73) took on the responsibility of rebuilding the innings, as they added 106 runs for the second wicket.
A classy half-century from Nathan McSweeney! #BBL13 pic.twitter.com/TTvRCtruVl
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 27, 2023
Matt Renshaw (17) and Sam Billings (23) tried to take their team to a big finish, but the Thunders bowling unit, led by Daniel Sams, took on quick wickets towards the end to pack up the whole Heat innings on 172 for 10 in 19.4 overs.
Classy uppercut timed perfectly by Billings! #BBL13 pic.twitter.com/Dl3b8VGJMH
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 27, 2023
Daniel Sams was the most successful bowler for the Sydney Thunders, with his exhilarating spell of 5 for 30 in four overs.
Daniel Sams takes the Thunder’s first 5fa in franchise history! #BBL13 pic.twitter.com/W4BnOt4fdb
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 27, 2023
In reply, Thunders gets off to a great start as Camron Bancroft (46) and Alex Hales (28) added 58 runs for the first wicket.
Bancroft keeps finding the rope! 🔍 #BBL13 pic.twitter.com/1ooVjFquL8
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 27, 2023
At one stage, Thunders was in a pretty comfortable position with the scoreboard reading 92 for 1 in 11.3 overs, but Heats, with regular wickets, made a strong comeback as the Thunders fell 15 runs short of the target at 157 for 9 in 20 overs.
Bartlett picks up Sandhu last ball, and the Heat are on a roll! #BBL13 pic.twitter.com/DzvDtxadj0
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 27, 2023
Xavier Bartlett was the most successful bowler for the Heats, with an impressive spell of 3 for 29 in four overs.
Two more wickets and the Heat are all over the Thunder! #BBL13 pic.twitter.com/btQ7YMJ0PA
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 27, 2023
Heats, with this win, again got themselves a two-point gap with the second spot Perth Scorchers, while the Thunders were forced to stay outside the top 4 at the fifth spot.
Check out the complete points table below:
Sam Billings has no right to do that! #BBL13 pic.twitter.com/Y41TE9VdM4
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 27, 2023
| S.no | Teams | M | W | L | NR | PTS | NRR |
| 1 | Brisbane Heat | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 9 | +1.94 |
| 2 | Perth Scorchers | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | +1.70 |
| 3 | Sydney Sixers | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | +0.16 |
| 4 | Adelaide Strikers | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | +0.17 |
| 5 | Sydney Thunders | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | -0.31 |
| 6 | Hobart Hurricanes | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | -0.54 |
| 7 | Melbourne Stars | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | -2.17 |
| 8 | Melbourne Renegades | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | -0.60 |