Australia scores 94 in the first Test match, but the run chase is cut short in Sydney due to bad weather. Heat will compete in the Challenger against Melbourne Renegades.
Even when the weather did temporarily improve, both sides knew they were doomed when the rain started up again minutes later.
With the win, Thunder, who advanced from the group in fourth place, is eliminated, while Heat go to the knockout round where they will play the Melbourne Renegades, who finished third.
Both of their regular-season encounters were won by Renegades by 22 runs and four wickets.
Khawaja, who nearly doubled his BBL|12 total with a 15th T20 half-century, will bring some remarkable form into that game.
The Australia Test opener hit 55 balls for 10 fours and three sixes before being caught off Ben Cutting at the wicket.
With his backing, Marnus Labuschange (73) helped add 128 runs for the second wicket.
Ross Pawson (2-0-32-0) and Usman Qadir (4-0-50-0) were two of the night’s biggest victims for the Thunder onslaught.
With Warner hitting four fours in a 20-ball, 36-run inning, Thunder appeared to be in terrific condition for the chase.
Matthew Gilkes had Matthew Kuhnemann caught on the boundary by James Bazley, who then grabbed the vital wicket.
However, the Thunder’s rate of scoring decreased as the rain got harder. After the vital fifth over was completed, nine runs were scored off the remaining 11 balls, leaving them shy of the DLS par score of 60.
he Australia Test opener hammers 94 but inclement weather in Sydney cuts short the run chase. Heat will face Melbourne Renegades for a place in the Challenger
Brisbane Heat kept alive hopes of a first men’s Big Bash League title for 10 years after slaloming past Sydney Thunder in the Eliminator.
A combination of Usman Khawaja’s 94 and inclement weather during the second half of the game helped secure an eight-run victory via the DLS method.
Thunder were set 203 for 5 and started well, navigating their way to 52 for 1 through 6.5 overs.
Rain began to fall early in the reply and grew heavier by the time the players were taken from the field before the end of the seventh over.
Conditions did temporarily ease to raise hopes of a resumption but when the rain returned minutes later both sides knew their fate.
Victory sees Thunder, who progressed in fourth from the group, crash out while Heat progress to the Knockout where they will face third-place Melbourne Renegades.
Renegades won both of their regular season meetings by 22 runs and four wickets.
Khawaja will carry some impressive form into that match after nearly doubling his entire tally in BBL|12 with a 15th T20 half-century.
The Australia Test opener hammered 10 fours and three sixes from 55 balls before being caught at the wicket off Ben Cutting.
Marnus Labuschange (73) provided able support and helped put on 128 for the second wicket.
It was a tough night for the Thunder attack, with Ross Pawson (2-0-32-0) and Usman Qadir (4-0-50-0) among the main victims.
Thunder looked in good shape in the chase with Warner hitting four fours in a 20-ball 36 not out.
James Bazley took the crucial wicket as Matthew Gilkes picked out Matthew Kuhnemann on the boundary.
But as the rain grew heavier the Thunder scoring rate slowed. Nine runs came off the final 11 balls following the completion of the crucial fifth over, leaving them short of the DLS par of 60.
Key match-ups, analysis, form, team news, weather forecast, tickets, TV and streaming information, odds, predictions and more ahead of the latest encounter in the 2022/23 Big Bash
What’s the match?
Melbourne Renegades host Brisbane Heat in the Knockout in the 2022/23 Big Bash, the 12th edition of the tournament.
When is it taking place?
The game is scheduled to start at 7.15pm local time (8.15am GMT) on Sunday, January 29.
Where is the match being played?
The game will be played in Melbourne at the Docklands Stadium.
Who’s got the form?
After three consecutive wooden spoons, Melbourne Renegades are in the playoffs – and the last time they made it to this stage, they went on to win the whole thing
They tailed off towards the back end of the group stages, winning two matches from their last five, but clung on to third place on net run rate.
As for Brisbane Heat, they were down and out after nine matches, winning just twice, but bounced back with four consecutive wins to pip Hobart Hurricanes into fifth position.
In the Eliminator, captain Usman Khawaja blasted 94 runs from 55 balls to help his side to 203 for 5 before a timely intervention from the weather secured an eight-run DLS win.
When these two sides met in the group stages, the Renegades took the points on both occasions, winning by 22 runs in Cairns and four wickets in Geelong. However, both matches came in December before the Heat had hit their purple patch.
What’s the key match-up?
As long as Aaron Finch is in the middle, the Renegades have a chance of posting or chasing almost any target.
The veteran batter has scored a team-leading 418 runs at a strike rate of 122.58, including four half-centuries. He gave the Scorchers a scare in his side’s penultimate group match, pushing on from 16 off 16 to finish unbeaten on 76 off 35 and take his side to within a dozen runs of chasing 213.
He can, of course, be a liability due to his sometimes slow scoring but has also shown a lot of grit and flare in BBL12, and is coming into this clash off the back of two unbeaten half-centuries.
Dismissing him early – or restricting his scoring – is a must for the Heat.
What’s the weather forecast?
Cloudy conditions with some evening sunshine poking through. Temperatures are expected to peak around 24 degrees Celsius.
What is the team news?
Melbourne Renegades will be without Kane Richardson, who is missing the match due to family reasons.
Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Matt Renshaw will be available for the Heat but Mitch Swepson has opted to focus on Australia’s upcoming Test tour of India.
What are the squads?
Melbourne Renegades: Zak Evans, Aaron Finch, Akeal Hosein, Liam Livingstone (withdrawn), Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sam Harper, Mackenzie Harvey, Nic Maddinson (c), Shaun Marsh, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Kane Richardson, Tom Rogers, Will Sutherland, Jon Wells, Jack Prestwidge, Ruwantha Kellapotha, Marcus Harris, Andre Russell (replacing Liam Livingstone, first four matches only), Martin Guptill (replacing Liam Livingstone, 10 group matches and finals), Corey Rocchiccioli, Peter Handscomb, Fawad Ahmed (injury replacement for Shaun Marsh), Matt Critchley (overseas replacement from January 9)
Brisbane Heat: Xavier Bartlett, James Bazley, Sam Billings, Max Bryant, Sam Hain, Sam Heazlett, Usman Khawaja, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Colin Munro, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, Ross Whiteley, Jack Wildermuth, Spencer Johnson, Will Prestwidge, Josh Brown
*Squads are for the whole BBL and not specific to this match
What are the possible starting XIs?
Melbourne Renegades: Martin Guptill, Shaun Marsh, Sam Harper, Aaron Finch, Matt Critchley, Jono Wells, Will Sutherland, Tom Rogers, Corey Rocchiccioli, Fawad Ahmed, Ruwantha Kellapotha
Brisbane Heat: Josh Brown, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Matt Renshaw, Sam Hain, Jimmy Peirson, James Bazley, Michael Neser, Spencer Johnson, Mark Steketee, Matthew Kuhnemann
