STATISTICAL HIGHLIGHTS
Follow UsSecond lowest Powerplay score of the season
Sydney Thunder have been one of those teams that have dominated the first four overs. Prior to the Knockout match against Brisbane heat, they had a run rate of 9.3, the best among all. However, in a crunch match, they faltered. Starting off with a maiden over – extra through a leg bye – Thunder managed to score only 22 runs with the loss of Alex Hales in the last ball of the first four overs. Only once had Thunder scored lesser than their score today in the first four overs. Against Perth Scorchers at the same venue, they managed to put on only 20 runs for the loss of one wicket.
Soapy hands of Brisbane Heat
Though the Brisbane based franchise has made it to the Challengers stage, their fielding has been sloppy, especially their catching. In their match against the Thunder as well, they dropped four catches. Hence, adding to their tally of drops from 24 to 28. The 28 catches dropped are the most by a team in this season of Big Bash League. They have a catching efficiency of 74 percent, the second-lowest among all the teams. Playing against Scorchers in their next game, they need to pull up if they have to make it to the finale.
Sam Heazlett registers his highest Big Bash League score
James Vince did it for Sydney Sixers yesterday by registering his highest BBL score and took them to the finals. Today, it was Sam Heazlett for Heat who powered through and went on to register his highest BBL score. More importantly, he stayed till the end and made sure Heat won the match. Starting off without a boundary till his 26th delivery, Heazlett went on to score an unbeaten 74 of 49 balls. He brought up his first half-century of the season and the second of his BBL career. In his first 30 balls, he had a strike rate of 90 and in the next 19, he scored at 247.4.
Highest partnership of the season for Brisbane Heat
At the halfway stage in the chase, Brisbane Heat were in deep trouble with the required rate of over 10 and Heazlett and Marnus Labuschagne struggling to find the boundaries. Jimmy Peirson, has had a great season so far and was handed a mammoth task. With 89 runs needed off seven overs, Peirson and Heazlett posted the highest partnership for Heat this season. Both batsmen were equal in contribution, but it was Heazlett who was more aggressive. The duo put on an unbeaten 92 runs of 44 balls. Prior to this partnership, Joe Denly and Joe Burns against the same opposition had hoisted 90 runs for the third wicket, which was the highest then.
Best season for Jimmy Peirson
The wicket-keeper batsman has been the hero for Heat on many occasions this season. He has been one of the reasons why Heat have made it this far. Peirson has scored 309 runs this season, the numbers might not be huge, but coming into bat at number five or below those are certain accomplishment. In no other season of BBL had he scored more than 200 runs. He has scored those 309 runs at an average of 51.5 and a strike rate of 127.2. Undeniably, this is his best season of BBL. Moreover, his balls per wicket record of 40.5 in this season is the best among all batsmen.