Chasing a huge target of 187 against a team unbeaten this season, Sydney Sixers came on top courtesy a fine half-century from their opener, Daniel Hughes. He was well supported by Brad Haddin, former Australian wicketkeeper, with a 13 ball 32.
Earlier, Brendon McCullum and Jimmy Pierson helped Brisbane Heat to a quick fire start smacking 70 runs in the powerplay before a cluster of wickets tied them down. Joe Burns, however, took them to a more than decent total with a fighting unbeaten half-century.
Sean Abbott was the star with the ball for the Sixers taking 3/38 in his four overs. The seamer dismissed McCullum and Chris Lynn to break Heat's sprinting start. Despite the huge total and some fine bowling by Badree and Swepson, Sixers came out on top to hand Brisbane Heat their first defeat of the season.
Brief Scores: Brisbane Heat 186/6 in 20 overs (Burns 51(33), Pierson 44(30), Abbott 3/38) lost to Sydney Sixers 191/7 in 19.4 overs (Hughes 85(55), Haddin 32(13), Swepson 2/25)
Result: Sydney Sixers won by 3 wickets
Here is a glance at top 5 moments from the clash at Gabba.
#5 Sean Abbott impresses yet again in his first spell
If anyone were under the impression that Australia's fast bowling resources are bare, they haven't watched Sean Abbott of late. The tall lanky seamer has been the leading wicket-taker in the Big Bash 2016/17 thus far, taking 9 wickets before this one.
He started with a bang against the Sixers, dismissing a set Brendon McCullum and then getting rid of the danger man, Chris Lynn. Lynn has been in great nick this season with two big scores and started his innings with 2 sixes. However, he took on a pumped up Abbott and paid the price.
Abbott was possibly brought into the attack late by Henriques as he came after the powerplay overs with Sixers already cruising at 70/0. He brought the scoring rate down in his first two overs, conceding just 11 and taking two key wickets.
#4 Jimmy Pierson's day out
Pierson has threatened to fire quite often this season without really racking up the kind of scores that makes fans and pundits sit up and take notice. However, he was determined to change that around at the Gabba, as he outscored Brendon McCullum in the beginning.
He slapped three fours in the first over bowled by Henry Thornton and then proceeded to hit 18 of Ben Dwarshius, including a monstrous hit over mid-wicket that sailed seven rows back into the stands.
Pierson went on to smack Dwarshius for another six in his next over, making 44 from just 30 balls at a strike rate of 146.66 before being trapped in front by a pacy delivery from debutant, Thornton.
#3 Johan Botha can do no wrong
Johan Botha, the former South Africa limited overs skipper can do no wrong in Australia. He has been an integral part of the Sydney Sixers side. With his stump to stump bowling, Botha is a miserly T20 bowler and the offie was at it again at the Gabba.
He opened the bowling along with Thornton to tie down McCullum and gave away just 14 runs in his first three overs. His lines and lengths were perfect and the batsmen found it tough to get him away. Even a set Pierson and Burns could not quite see him off although Burns dented his figures a bit with a six in his second last delivery.
The spinner returned with figures of 2/24 after 4 overs and continued his inspiring form which made selector, Mark Waugh comment that he may be in line to play in India when Australia tour for the Test series.
#2 Joe Burns cracks half-century
Joe Burns has had little opportunity to bat this season due to the blazing form of Chris Lynn and Brendon McCullum. Coming in at three down, the out of favour Test opener has remained not out in two of his three innings.
He nudged around at run-a-ball alongside Ben Cutting, with whom he forged a 42-run stand in the middle overs. He grew more into his new role in the middle order as the innings progressed and smashed Thornton and Botha for sixes.
Burns reached his half-century in the final over of the innings after surviving a run-out scare when at 49. His fifty came in 32 balls at a strike rate of 154.54.
#1 Daniel Hughes' single-handed fight
Opener Daniel Hughes waged a lone battle for the Sixers, taking them from 61/2 in 6 overs to within smelling distance of victory with a rapid 85 off 55 balls. The left-hander fended off 5 dot balls from Badree to start off before going berserk.
Hughes, known more for his skills as a first-class player notched up his highest score and third fifty in the format. He smashed Buchanan for back-to-back sixes in the 12th over of the innings firmly putting Sixers in the driving seat.
The opener was in a belligerent mood, belting seven fours and four maximums in a flawless display before he was dismissed in the final over with his team three runs short of the target.
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