Sam Harper gave the Renegades hope in the chase but the Heat attack did a good job shutting out the game
Brisbane Heat Hit 173 for 5 (Lynn 52, Labuschagne 49, Evans 3-34) Melbourne Renegades 147 (Harper 57, Steketee 3-41) with 26 runs
Brisbane Heat kept alive in the hopes of reaching the finals with a tough win against out-of-turmoil Melbourne Renegades, including a brutal half-century from Chris Lynn and an all-time valuable display. from Marnus Labuschagne.
The heat fell off after a 78-run opening position but 49 members from Labuschagne helped 49 off 31 members to make some late impact with his strongest T20 career engines still young. In the middle of a very tight record, the Heat were able to secure the Bash Boost when the Renegades were behind them at the 10-over mark of the chase.
Labuschagne then sent a Sam Harper wicket that won the first half of the Renegades’ chase with a powerful 57 off 32. When there was a chance the result would come close to missing 45 off the last four pitches closed the heat mattresses. the game is very effective.
Lynn provides early muscles
Lynn quickly went out of the blocks, especially against Josh Lalor who was taken for six consecutive years in his second place, and after a quiet end to the power play against Peter Hatzoglou came fifth. from Zak Evans for 15. Lynn lifted his fifty into ninth place with a six-over cover over Evans and with more than half of the rest left there was plenty of time to make it three centuries into three days after Alex Carey and Alex Hales. However, the next ball he picked was a deep midwicket and when two deliveries followed Max Bryant went in behind Heat innings starting to lose its way.
Labuschagne revives innings
After the midway point on the innings there was a 36-ball time where the heat didn’t find the end and they lost wickets. Joe Denly was stumped off Imad Wasim and Hat Burns was put on Joe Burns in the first run of the Power Surge. Both views of field restrictions gave just 14 runs while the heat struggled to raise the rate but then Labuschagne, who has passed 30 for the first time in the T20s, found his step with 15 coming from the last one at Hatzoglou. In the next over, Labuschagne added six more while grabbing Evans over the fine leg but one short run on fifty maidens he fell to try again.
Finch’s run continues
It has been a forgetful BBL for Aaron Finch who has found a number of unfortunate ways to remove him and it is a legitimate question to ask if he would be better off. missing the last two games to give himself some extra time at home before New Zealand Tour time. On Saturday his engines ended up in a more conventional style when he was crushed by a brisk backup from Mark Steketee who would have broken all three. At least for Finch with the Renegades not making final rounds that means he should be able to see his own bed for a week or so before crossing the Tasman next month.
Heat hang in
At 2 for 91 in the 11th over with Harper having matched Lynn with a 29-ball fifty there was little room for the Heat to keep themselves in a reasonable position in terms of progress. The game changed when Jake Fraser-McGurk went to Labuschagne at the level that then caught the ball and, after the first delivery for six with Harper, found a real top from sliding down his settled in Jimmy Peirson’s gloves. The next four deliveries were dots and Labuschagne’s second sightings cost just 10. When Beau Webster fell to a tight stop and Mackenzie Harvey picked out a midfield the Renegades were at 6 for 106 and falling sharply. However, Wasim and Jack Prestwidge took 16 off the Surge first to keep things interesting before the last four wickets fell for 14. Mitchell Swepson added a 2 for 26 bag from his four-pointers.
Andrew McGlashan is deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo