In a breathtaking display of power-hitting, Brisbane Heat pulled off the greatest chase in BBL history, overcoming Perth Scorchers’ 257 for 6 to finish 258 for 2 with a ball to spare at the Gabba. Matt Renshaw and Jack Wildermuth produced centuries of remarkable intensity, combining for a record 212-run partnership, the highest in Big Bash League history.
Renshaw’s 102 off 51 balls and Wildermuth’s unbeaten 110 from 54 dominated proceedings as Heat chased the third-highest total in T20 history overall. Perth Scorchers had earlier blasted 257, with Finn Allen (79 off 38) and Cooper Connolly (77 off 37) trading blows in a 142-run second-wicket stand, while both sides smashed 18 sixes each, setting a new BBL record.
The chase began under a cloud of uncertainty for Heat, with skipper Nathan McSweeney injured before batting and Colin Munro falling first ball to Jhye Richardson. Renshaw was lucky early, surviving a no-ball catch before taking control and hitting boundaries with ruthless precision. Wildermuth, whose previous BBL best was 31, matched the intensity, capitalizing on a dropped chance at 42 to keep the Heat in contention.
By the halfway stage, Heat were 131 for 1 and in full command, hitting 42 runs across two overs to put pressure on Perth. Renshaw reached his century off 48 balls, celebrated wildly, and despite being run out in the final overs, Wildermuth anchored the chase to completion, scoring the winning runs and sparking chaos and jubilation in the stands.
Perth’s bowlers, including Shaheen Shah Afridi and debutant Matthew Kuhnemann, struggled to maintain line and length, while Xavier Bartlett’s early breakthrough was insufficient to stem the tide. The Scorchers had earlier looked poised to break the league’s scoring records but were undone by Heat’s relentless batting onslaught.
This epic chase will be remembered as one of the most extraordinary in BBL history, showcasing the sheer firepower of Renshaw and Wildermuth and the thrill of Twenty20 cricket at its peak.
