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And so, there were two - Perth Scorchers and Brisbane Heat. They will fight it out in the summit clash at the Perth Stadium on Saturday - do join us for our coverage of the same right here on Sportskeeda, while keeping yourselves up to date with all the other cricketing news and action from around the world in the meantime, including the SA20, which resumes later this evening. For the moment, this is the duo of Bidipto Datta and Sooryanarayanan Sesha thanking you for joining us and taking your leave. See you around soon - buh-bye for now!
What a player, what a performance! And hasn't he stood tall when the chips were down alright! It's performances such as these that define a player and Neser has truly turned in something special today. He'll hope there is one more such performance pending as the Heat travel to Perth to take on the Scorchers. Incidentally, the last time they made the final was also against the Scorchers in Perth - except, it was at the WACA Ground and not the Perth Stadium. Can they script an unbelievable come-from-behind fairytale though? We will have our answer on Saturday...
As for the Sixers, it's not to be a fourth straight final. They have an incredible list that has once again managed to enjoy a fine season. But alas, this is it for Daniel Christian's career - what a fine servant he has been across leagues around the world. A serial winner in T20 leagues, he has a CV that he can be mighty proud of and make no mistake over the fact that the Sixers now have a huge task on hand in finding a suitable replacement.
Michael Neser has been adjudged the Player of the Match! Here is what he has to say.
Neser: Amazing to make the final! It was not an easy wicket to bat on, and their bowling made things trickier. The ball was holding a bit on the pitch, so hitting through the line was not easy, which makes this win special. Every player has stepped up this time round, and that makes this campaign extremely impressive. Thankfully, this time, it was me who did it tonight! Perth Scorchers are a well-rounded team no doubt, but we will be up for the challenge for sure! My message to all the fans and all of them from the Heat who are in India at the moment is, "Come On Heat!"
Match summary: Brisbane Heat beat Sydney Sixers by 4 wickets and qualify for the final of BBL 12.
Michael Neser 48* (32) | Matthew Kuhnemann 3/17 (4) Daniel Hughes 23 (24) | Izharulhaq Naveed 2/28 (4)
A tricky pitch, a middling total and two teams looking to seal the lone remaining spot in the summit clash. Brisbane felt the 'Heat' for large swathes through that chase but in the end, that man with ice in his veins did it without a fuss. Michael Neser is the hero for the Heat and they progress to their second final in the history of the competition.
Chasing a meagre 117, Josh Brown and Sam Heazlett were off the blocks quickly. They seemed to be in a hurry to kill the contest, but a poor judgement from the latter saw him run out off an overthrow. And that's when the Heat's worst fears came into being again as they suffered yet another collapse. The pitch wasn't easy to bat on and Izharulhaq Naveed unleashed his bag of tricks to not just keep the batters on their toes, but also scythe through the middle-order. Skipper Jimmy Peirson's departure put the game right back in the balance and with the Sixers fighting to save every run, it was game on!
The Heat didn't get a partnership going at all when they needed one. With half their side back in the hut, Max Bryant tried initiating a counter-attack before nudging it around until the Power Surge came along. A poor shot saw him shank one down the throat of long off and that brought this game alive yet again. But then, Neser tore into Hayden Kerr in the second over of that phase and put the result beyond doubt with a series of boundaries.
There was simply no way back for the Sixers thereafter. Neser looked a cut above the rest of his colleagues, even as the bowlers kept it tight to James Bazley. But the damage had been inflicted already and in fitting fashion, it was Neser himself who sealed the deal to notch up his highest BBL score, while also enabling his team set up a date with the Perth Scorchers in Perth on Saturday, for the ultimate prize!
A poetic finish to the chase with the chief orchestrator finishing it in style. Michael Neser, you are a hero! That was some performance under pressure with the Heat wilting at one stage but he has seen his side through to their second BBL Final. It's the Brisbane Heat who will challenge the Perth Scorchers' title defense in the final on Saturday!
18.2 Ben Dwarshuis to Michael Neser, FOUR RUNS! AND BRISBANE HEAT ARE IN THE FINAL! Full on off-and-middle, Neser comes forward, backs away a bit, clears the front leg a touch, heaves through the line and lifts it over the right of mid-on, for a boundary down to long-on to finish the match, with a lot of composure! That will be it for Daniel Christian, the cricketer!
18.1 Ben Dwarshuis to James Bazley, round the wicket, full outside off, this is hit straight to mid-off, they decided to run, Bazley gave up midway but the direct hit at the bowler's end went missing!
Ben Dwarshuis [3.0-0-15-1] is back into the attack. Around the wicket.
A fabulous spell comes to a close from Abbott and he remains atop the wicket-takers' charts. Alas, it doesn't look like he can add to his current tally of 26 wickets though. Brisbane Heat require 5 runs off 12 deliveries at 2.50 RPO.
18
overs
112/6score
0
1
0
0
1
0
runs
Michael Neser*
44(31)
James Bazley
1(9)
Sean Abbott
2/13
17.6 Sean Abbott to Michael Neser, good length ball on middle, clipped to short mid-wicket from the crease, but the run is not on.
17.5 Sean Abbott to James Bazley, good length ball on leg-stump, this is a miscued drive to the left of mid-off, and the single does get picked up!
17.4 Sean Abbott to James Bazley, good length ball on off, defended back to Abbott from the crease, for no run again.
17.3 Sean Abbott to James Bazley, short outside off, hit straight back to the bowler off the back foot, but for no run, after a good stop in the follow through by Abbott!
The Heat are now one strike away...
17.2 Sean Abbott to Michael Neser, good length ball on middle, clipped down to deep square-leg from the back foot, for a single.
17.1 Sean Abbott to Michael Neser, over the wicket, good length ball on off, tapped to backward point from the back foot, for no run.
Sean Abbott [3.0-1-11-1] is back into the attack
Naveed has bowled his heart out today. He hasn't been easy to put away but Neser has looked the part against every bowler in sight. Just 7 runs away from their second BBL final now are the Heat. The last time they got there was ten seasons ago - it's been a long time alright!
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Michael Neser
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Sean Abbott
Sydney Cricket Ground
