Match Details
The Heat didn’t trail a smooth path chasing a target of 117 runs. Sam Heazlett and Joshua Brown gave a brisk start to the Heat, scoring 31 runs for the opening stand. A run-out ended up with Heazlett at the danger end and it opened the way for a collapse.
Nathan McSweeney who got an opportunity in place of Marnus Labuschagne failed to light up. In addition, the duo that saved Heat during crucial moments - Sam Hain and Jimmy Peirson didn't have a rosy day.
The game seemed to be sailing from one end to the other with Sydney Sixers trying to crawl back. But a wonderful knock from Michael Neser ensured that the Heat have some moments to live for. When the side was reeling at 56-5, the Queenslander eased off the pressure. He carved away runs at either sides. In the 16th over, he smacked four consecutive boundaries against Hayden Kerr and shifted the momentum.
The equation got minimized to less than run-a-ball and with Neser at one end, the scoreboard touched the target in a matter of time.
Earlier, the Sydney Sixers won the toss and opted to bat first. The openers failed to give a good start and hurried back to the pavilion. The top three touched the double-digit mark but none could go past the 25 runs.
Matt Kuhnemann gave a great start with the ball in hand for the Heat. The off-spinner removed Josh Philippe, Moises Henriques, and Daniel Hughes. Spencer Johnson, Michael Neser, and Nathan McSweeney were tremendous in the middle phases. Spencer and Neser gave away less than run-a-ball during the Power Surge and extracted wickets as well. The Sixers were curtailed down to 116 runs at the end of 20 overs with Spencer Johnson and Matthew Kuhnemann bagging three wickets.
Had the Sixers' added 20 more runs to the tally, they would have had a fair chance to scurry into the finals.
Congratulations to the Heat for earning the tickets to the final.