The Brisbane Heat are 1-2 from 1 over in reply to the Sydney Thunder’s 8-173 at The Gabba, with Colin Munro (0) and Matt Renshaw (0) at the crease.
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MATCH CENTRE: Heat vs Thunder scorecard, teams, videos, updates
Jack Wood could only manage 2 from four balls, before he was clean bowled by a ripper from Lockie Ferguson.
Earlier the Thunder made 8-173 from 20 overs after being sent in by the Heat, with coach Dan Christian returning to the BBL with a brilliant cameo of 23 off 15, including two towering sixes.
Christian hit two towering sixes late in the innings that showed he has lost none of his touch in retirement.
“It’s like he never left,” Mark Waugh said.
Earlier Oliver Davies hit one four in his 10 off 12 balls, before he was caught behind by Tom Alsop going for a ramp shot off Michael Neser to give him a wicket in his 100th BBL game.
Matthew Gilkes smashed four fours in his 20 off 10 balls, before he was Alsop’s second catch to give Spencer Johnson a wicket off his second ball.
Sam Billings could only manage 10 off 8 balls, including one four before he skied one off Neser to give Alsop his third catch of the innings.
Sherfane Rutherford smashed one towering six in his 11 off 9 before he was caught by a brilliant out-field effort from Nathan McSweeney off Matt Kuhnemann.
Hugh Weibgen smashed one six in his 11 off 8 balls, before he was caught to give Kuhnemann his second scalp to finish with figures of 2-32.
David Warner smashed seven fours in a 35-ball 50, before he was bowled by Spencer Johnson with the very next ball.
Chris Green could only manage 5 off 7 before he was caught by Kuhnemann off a leading edge to give Xavier Bartlett his first of the night.
Tom Andrew hit a four and a six in his 13 off 6 balls, before he was bowled as Johnson finished with figures of 3-39.
Lockie Ferguson chipped in with 7 off 8 balls, but it was Warner and Christian who held the innings together to set the Heat 174 for victory.
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MATCH PREVIEW
Nathan McSweeney and the Brisbane Heat host David Warner and the Sydney Thunder in a blockbuster clash at The Gabba.
The Brisbane Heat won the toss and elected to bowl.
The second placed Thunder can jump the Sixers into first with a victory, while the fifth placed Heat can jump the Scorchers into fourth with a win.
McSweeney and Max Bryant will lead the charge with the bat for the Heat, while Michael Neser returns from injury to join forces with Xavier Bartlett with the ball.
For the Thunder Warner and Sam Billings will be ones to watch with the bat after the injuries to Cameron Bancroft and Daniel Sams, which has forced the surprise call-up of retired 41-year-old Dan Christian.
Wes Agar and Chris Green will be danger men with the ball for the visitors.
It sets the scene for a mouth-watering clash with both sides desperate for wins in the build-up to the BBL14 finals series.
TEAMS
Brisbane Heat: Colin Munro (c), Jack Wood, Matthew Renshaw, Nathan McSweeney, Max Bryant, Tom Alsop (wk), Michael Neser, Spencer Johnson, Xavier Bartlett, Mitch Swepson, Matt Kuhnemann
Sydney Thunder: David Warner (c), Matthew Gilkes, Oliver Davies, Sam Billings (wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Hugh Weibgen, Chris Green, Daniel Christian, Tom Andrews, Lockie Ferguson, Wes Agar
