Mitchell Starc’s searing four-wicket burst and composed half-centuries from Steven Smith and Sam Curran powered Sydney Sixers to a five-wicket win over Brisbane Heat, booking their place in the BBL Qualifier and ending the Heat’s finals campaign.
Bowling first, Starc produced one of the spells of the season with 4 for 35, striking with pace and movement to reduce Brisbane to 18 for 3 before restricting them to 171 for 9, despite a resilient unbeaten 69 from Nathan McSweeney and a late assault by Michael Neser.
In reply, Smith once again set the tone at the top, backing up his recent century with a fluent 54 off 40 balls, before Sam Curran took control of the chase with a fearless 53 not out from 27 deliveries, sealing victory with eight balls to spare and earning Player of the Match honours.
The win confirms Sixers’ second-place finish and sends them west to face Perth Scorchers in the Qualifier, with the winner earning the right to host Sunday’s (25) BBL final.
For Brisbane Heat, the defeat marks a bitter end to an otherwise strong season, as their first home loss of the tournament also proved to be their last game, ending their title hopes at the knockout stage.
