It is the first time that Brisbane have won at home in BBL09 after three successive defeats at the Gabba and Metricon Stadium.  Hobart sorely missed D’Arcy Short and Riley Meredith despite the return of captain Matthew Wade from international Test duty. Brisbane dallied with another batting collapse at home before sealing the victory.

It was an absolute shambles of a batting innings from Hobart Hurricanes. Apart from Matthew Wade’s innings of 61, the men in purple made a right mess of setting a target. Winning the toss, Hobart decided to bat first which would have been driven by Brisbane’s inability to chase down totals at the Gabba this season. However, it was a horror show from the Tasmanians.

Hobart was poor in the field, but Brisbane was superb in the field. Ben Laughlin’s caught and bowled grab at full length, to remove Tom Rogers, epitomised the effort that Brisbane put in. Wade’s dismissal, a juggling effort from Matt Renshaw that was finally taken by Tom Banton, was contentious but the umpires were finally convinced of the legitimacy of the catch. Law 19.5.2 would have been the point of order as to where Renshaw was for the initial juggle, but their elongated deliberations finally went the way of the fielding team.

Josh Lalor was the pick of the Heat bowlers with 3-21. Picking up wickets regularly, Heat did not allow the Hurricanes batters to settle. Zahir Khan put in another impressive spell while Ben Laughlin was just as remarkable.

Brisbane’s response was commenced by their wunderkinder, Tom Banton and Max Bryant. With a combined age of just 40, they are exciting prospects. However, it was not Banton’s night as he fell early after planting a big six down the ground. Bryant lasted a little bit longer before he too perished trying to smash the ball into the stands.

Matt Renshaw soon came and went for a breezy nine runs off five balls as the spectre of another Heat batting collapse threatened to occur. Burns then ushered in the spectre by playing an ill-advised pull, off the second ball he faced and Nathan Ellis took the catch. Heat was 4/63 and in dire need of a partnership. Scott Boland was taking full advantage of more Heat profligacy with 3-8 from his two overs.

Brisbane seemed to be intent on being just as bad as Hobart and demonstrated it when Jimmy Peirson and Chris Lynn could not make up their mind whether to run, or not, and Lynn was left short of his ground. What should have been a comfortable run chase was turning into a nightmare.

Peirson and Ben Cutting managed to curtail their natural aggression until the 16ht over when Tom Rogers tested Cutting’s resolve. He responded with two massive sixes and Heat were back to less than a six per over required. Peirson’s boundary off the same bowler later in the over appeared to have decided which way the game would be decided.

Cutting’s 43 not out, from 29 balls, alongside Peirson made sure of the victory with ten balls remaining. It was not pretty but Heat made sure of victory in the end.

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Match Summary:

Hobart Hurricanes – 9/126 20 overs (Wade 61, Lalor 3-21, Laughlin 2-21)

Brisbane Heat – 5/131 18.2 overs (Cutting 43 no, Peirson 23no Boland 3-21)

Brisbane Heat won by five wickets

Attendance 29,749

Brisbane Heat: Chris Lynn (c), Tom Banton, Max Bryant, Joe Burns, Ben Cutting, Josh Lalor, Ben Laughlin, James Peirson (wk), Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson, Zahir Khan

Hobart Hurricanes: Matthew Wade (c), George Bailey, Scott Boland, Nathan Ellis, Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott (wk), Simon Milenko, David Miller, Qais Ahmad, Tom Rogers, Clive Rose