Sixers Edge Heat to Stay Alive in BBL Qualifiers’ Spot

Sydney Sixers moved to the brink of another Big Bash League qualifier with a composed five-wicket win over Brisbane Heat, riding decisive spells from Mitchell Starc and Steven Smith before Sam Curran closed the door with a nerveless finish under pressure.

Put in to bat, Heat never truly recovered from a brutal opening burst that shredded their top order and forced them into repair mode for most of the innings. Starc, playing only his 12th BBL match, finished with career-best figures of 4 for 35 as Brisbane were restricted to 171 for 9. 

The left-armer struck early and hard. Jack Wildermuth sliced a loose full toss to cover in Starc’s first over, continuing the pacer’s remarkable habit of early breakthroughs. Sean Abbott followed up by removing Usman Khawaja cheaply, and when Starc angled one away at serious pace to have Matt Renshaw edging behind for a duck, the Heat were wobbling at 18 for 3 with the innings barely underway. 

Amid the collapse, Nathan McSweeney played the role of anchor with assurance well beyond his years, eventually finishing unbeaten on 69 from 54 deliveries. His innings, though, lacked sustained support until Michael Neser injected late urgency. 

Neser’s 35 from just 14 balls briefly flipped the momentum, particularly when he took Starc on with three successive boundaries and then launched Jack Edwards into the stands. Starc returned during the power surge to pick up his third wicket, removing Jimmy Peirson with a sharp catch to cover.

Smith and Curran Done it Again

Chasing 172, the Sixers began with intent but not recklessness. Steven Smith, fresh off a dominant century earlier in the week, once again set the tone. He paced his 54 from 40 balls with care. Brisbane’s bowlers found some control during the power surge, with Zaman Khan in particular troubling Smith before finally bowling him to stall the chase momentarily.

That phase gave Heat a flicker of hope. Sam Curran, however, had other ideas. His unbeaten 53 from 27 balls featured clean striking and smart placement.

Neser missed a run-out with all three stumps exposed and then spilled Lachlan Shaw in the deep, errors that proved costly as the final overs approached. When the Sixers needed 28 from the last three, Curran took control, swinging through the line and backing his strength to finish the job with eight balls to spare.

Smith, who had drawn attention in a previous game for his intensity during a power surge, was visibly supportive in the field, offering encouragement after a dropped chance and keeping the group composed.

The victory sends the Sixers west for a qualifier against Perth Scorchers, with a home final on the line.