Australia's sensational left-arm pacer Spencer Johnson who was roped in for Rs 10 crore by Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction wreaked havoc in Sydney as his four-wicket haul helped Brisbane Heat beat Sydney Sixers by 54 runs and claimed their first Big Bash League (BBL) title after 11 years.
Earlier, Sydney Sixers won the toss and opted to bowl first. Sean Abbott got rid of Jimmy Pierson in the first over. After a couple of quiet overs, the centurion of the semifinal, Josh Brown led the attack. After the powerplay overs, Brisbane Heat had 33/1 on the board. Ben Dwarshuis' first over was expensive as he conceded three boundaries. Nathan McSweeney continued the boundary-hitting spree. In the 10th over, Brown smashed Hayden Kerr for two sixes and a four to reach his half-century from 32 balls.
Dwarshuis came back into the attack and got the wicket of McSweeney. He scored 33 runs from 32 balls including five fours. In the next over, Steve OKeefe in his farewell match dismissed Brown. He scored 53 runs from 38 balls including five fours and three sixes. Max Bryant and Matt Renshaw went after Abbott and Dwarshuis. In the penultimate over, Abbott got three wickets. First Bryant departed for a 19-ball 29. Paul Walter and Michael Neser fell off consecutive deliveries. In the final over, Xavier Bartlett was run out. Renshaw hit the penultimate ball of the innings for a six. On the last ball, he was run out trying to take a third run. His 22-ball 40 helped the Brisbane Heat post 166/8.
Sydney Sixers' run chase hit a speed bump early on with Neser getting the wicket of Daniel Hughes in the first over. Johnson in his first over was hit for three boundaries but he managed to get the wicket of Jack Edwards. Sydney Sixers were 42/2 after powerplay overs. Johnson in his second over got the wicket of Josh Philippe by generating extra bounce. Philippe scored 23 runs from 22 balls. In the next over, Jordan Silk got stumped for a four-ball duck off Mitchell Swepson's bowling. At the halfway stage, Sydney Sixers were 60/4.
Covid-positive Moises Henriques' fight ended in the 12th over. He lost his wicket to Walter after hitting a six. He could score 25 runs from 27 balls. In his third over, Johnson made Dwarshuis his third victim. Joel Davies tried to revive the run chase but Swepson had the last laugh in the 14th over. Johnson finished with a caught and bowled to send Kerr packing. In the 18th over, Bartlett struck twice to bowl out Sydney Sixers for 112.
Johnson was ecstatic after his first BBL title win as he said, “Pretty special. We wanted to make amends after last year. Nice to contribute. Credit to the Sixers. They have been awesome. Credit to the bowlers and batters. Brisbane Heat has changed my life!”
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