In an extraordinary night of cricket that rewrote the record books, the Brisbane Heat pulled off the greatest run chase in Big Bash League history, hunting down a mammoth target of 258 to beat the Perth Scorchers by eight wickets with a single ball to spare.
A Record-Shattering Innings from the Scorchers
The stage was set for a historic clash at the Gabba on Friday night, where a crowd of 24,277 witnessed batting carnage from the outset. The Perth Scorchers, sent in to bat, posted a formidable franchise-record total of 6-257. The damage was inflicted by a blistering partnership, with Finn Allen hammering 79 from just 38 balls and Cooper Connolly adding a rapid 77 from 37 deliveries.
The Scorchers' innings was a spectacle of power-hitting, as they smashed a BBL-record 18 sixes, surpassing the previous record of 17 which they also held. The Heat's cause was further hampered when their captain, Nathan McSweeney, suffered a game-ending left ankle injury while attempting a catch during Perth's onslaught.
Heat's Spirited and Record-Breaking Reply
Facing a seemingly insurmountable target, the Heat's chase began disastrously, losing Colin Munro to the very first ball. When Jhye Richardson appeared to have Matt Renshaw caught with the score at 2-36, the game looked all but over. However, in a pivotal moment, Renshaw was reprieved after replays showed Richardson had overstepped for a front-foot no-ball.
Granted this lifeline, Renshaw and Jack Wildermuth launched a breathtaking counter-attack. The pair put on a monumental, record-breaking 212-run partnership to steer their side to an improbable victory. Renshaw, the former Australian Test batsman many felt should have featured in the recent Ashes, blazed 102 from 51 balls, including nine sixes, before being run out. Wildermuth remained unbeaten on a magnificent 110 from 54 balls, sealing the win with a ball left.
"I still don't really believe it. A bit of a pinch-me moment, a lot of goosebumps," a jubilant Renshaw said after the match. "A lot of people probably put us out of the contest... It was just trust yourself. We had a bit of luck on our side as well tonight."
A Landmark Night for the Big Bash League
The match produced a cascade of records that underscored its historic nature:
- The Heat's chase of 258 is now the biggest successful run chase in BBL history and the third-biggest ever in T20 cricket worldwide.
- The aggregate of 515 runs marked the first time the 500-run barrier had been broken in the league.
- Combined, the two teams hit an incredible 36 sixes, shattering the previous record for a single BBL match.
- Remarkably, the Heat matched the Scorchers' record by also hitting 18 maximums in their innings.
The drama continued into the final over when Heat batsman Max Bryant had to retire hurt after appearing to dislocate his shoulder, but Wildermuth kept his composure to finish the job. For the Scorchers, it was a bitter pill to swallow after such a dominant batting display. "It's a hell of a game for Big Bash cricket – it's exciting," said Cooper Connolly. "Unfortunately, we weren't on the winning side of it. Credit to Wildermuth and Renshaw – they played superb knocks."
