Billings' half-century enables Heat to trump Strikers on Lynn's return
Colin de Grandhomme and Thomas Kelly revived the chase but the home side broke a run of eight defeats
Colin de Grandhomme and Thomas Kelly revived the chase but the home side broke a run of eight defeats
Scorer: K Vairavan | Commentator: @PeterDellaPenna
9.19 pm So Brisbane Heat snap an eight-match losing streak stretching back to last season and as a result get their first win of the 2022-23 BBL campaign. For the Strikers, that's also their first loss after winning three straight to start the season. Heat benefitted significantly from Sam Billings being dropped twice, and then Strikers shot themselves in the foot wasting a review on the first ball of the chase, only to not have one available when Chris Lynn was given out lbw on a decision that would have been reversed had the review still be available to use.
Sam Billings is unsurprisingly named Player of the Match for his half-century: "I think both sides were pretty rusty if you can call it that way. Each side gave each other opportunities to get back into the game without being really ruthless. Maybe you iron out those errors as you get later into the tournament but it was a great result for us. It wasn't pretty at times, but you have days like that. I struggled to time it but you stick in there, a little bit of luck here and there and then one over can really change the game. That over against Peter Siddle [27 runs in the 19th] I came out on top and that really changed the game. I did struggle a little bit today. Sometimes when the bowler is running up, your mind is not quite that clear. Some days it just takes a little bit longer. Sometimes you just have to stick it out. You've got one of the best bowlers in the world in Rashid Khan up against you, get through that and it will get easier. It's just about having that clarity about what your game plan is, especially when you're struggling. You're not gonna take down Rashid Khan for 25 in an over. So it's trying to be smart. We kept on losing wickets at key times, but finally we got up to a decent score and held on."
That's it for today's doubleheader live coverage. For those of you who haven't already been following the IPL Auction live coverage, there's no better time than to switch over to that part of the site now. Until tomorrow, take care!
15 off 3 to win now. Strikers still marginally alive. Captain Siddle the last man in.
HJ Nielsen c Neser b Bazley 24 (26m 17b 3x4 0x6) SR: 141.17
Bazley to bowl the final over.
Colin de Grandhomme and Thomas Kelly revived the chase but the home side broke a run of eight defeats