Opener Josh Brown took Brisbane Heat into the BBL final after bludgeoning the joint-second-fastest century in the history of the competition to halt Adelaide Strikers’ barnstorming late-season run.
In an extraordinary display of power-hitting on the Gold Coast, Brown smashed a record 12 sixes in his 140 off 57 balls to finish with the third-highest individual score in BBL history. He destroyed the in-form spinners Cameron Boyce and Lloyd Pope to completely dominate Heat’s huge total of 214 for 7 in the Challenger final.
Brown made the two-paced surface look easier than it actually was as Strikers fell well short in the chase with Heat speedster Spencer Johnson starring with three wickets.
Heat will look to end an 11-year title drought when they face Sydney Sixers in Wednesday’s final at the SCG.
Here’s all of Josh Brown’s record-breaking 12(!!) sixes. #BBL13 pic.twitter.com/SGFndB8fc2
The in-form Strikers were left deflated after having entered the game with confidence after five straight victories capped by an upset road victory over defending champions Perth Scorchers in the Knockout.
After being routed for 113 by Sixers, Heat rejigged their batting order by picking opener Charlie Wakim for his season debut. Heat also reverted their tactics by electing to bat first in what proved a wise move on a surface that appeared better for batting than in the previous match.
After Wakim fell lbw in the second over off quick David Payne’s first ball, Brown took over by initially blasting sixes over midwicket off seamers Henry Thornton and James Bazley.
Strikers were rattled but looked to legspinners Boyce and Pope, who had proven an unstoppable tandem during Strikers’ winning streak.—Agencies
