The Adelaide Strikers’ remarkable run in the back half of KFC BBL|13 has come to an end at the hands of the Brisbane Heat, falling to a 54-run loss in the Challenger to end their season.
Heat opener Josh Brown produced the greatest performance of the T20 summer to be crowned Player of the Match, belting a truly remarkable 140 from just 57 deliveries, including 12 sixes and 10 fours, to deliver his side victory on the Gold Coast.
A truly solo performance, Brown’s knock of 140 made up 65.4% of the Heat’s total of 7-214, with skipper Nathan McSweeney the only other player to reach double figures.
The Strikers were able to limit the damage in the late overs, taking four wickets for just five runs between the 17th and 19th overs, but it was not to be for the visitors, unable to chase down the huge total to find a sixth consecutive victory.
English international David Payne was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2-17 from his spell, while spin twins of Cam Boyce and Lloyd Pope also collected two wickets apiece.
Losing openers Matt and D’Arcy Short early, the Strikers were always facing an uphill battle in the chase, and despite knocks of 50 from 33 to keeper Harry Nielsen and 41 from 24 from young gun Thomas Kelly, the total proved too much.
Left-arm quick Spencer Johnson starred for the Heat, finishing with figures of 3-20, dismissing the Strikers key three of Short, Short and Weatherald.
The Strikers season comes to an end with the loss, a season that saw four players in the official KFC BBL|13 Team of the Tournament, including the naming of Matt Short as captain and leading run-scorer and international Jamie Overton as joint leading wicket-taker.