Facing off against the Adelaide Strikers for a chance to secure a spot in the summit clash at Carrara Oval, Brisbane Heat found themselves in a precarious position after their loss in the Qualifier to Sydney Sixers at the same venue. The specter of a repeat of their dismal batting performance just three nights prior loomed large as they lost their first wicket in the second over.
However, a singular individual ensured a different narrative this time around, etching his name into the annals of BBL and T20 cricket folklore. Opening batsman Josh Brown, with a mere 20 games of T20 experience and a lone appearance for his state Queensland, initiated his onslaught with a maximum and a boundary in the third over.
By the ninth over, he had dispatched the ball over the fence four more times, reaching his second BBL fifty off just 22 balls. The celebration continued with two more towering sixes in the following over. Even after the conclusion of the 129-run partnership with Nathan McSweeney, where the captain contributed just 33 runs, Brown’s momentum remained unstoppable. He accelerated to a 41-ball century amid a fervent standing ovation from the home crowd.
The 30-year-old’s blitzkrieg finally came to a halt in the 17th over, concluding with a staggering score of 140 off 57 balls, adorned with 12 sixes and 10 boundaries. The partnership with Matt Renshaw yielded only four runs during its 64-run tenure.
Amidst the chaos, broadcaster Erin Holland sought out Brown’s mother in the stands. Comforting her and ensuring her son was still at the crease, Holland prompted Mrs. Brown to share her pride in her son’s achievements. She gleefully revealed his prowess in golf and recounted a childhood soccer game where he scored 10 goals at the age of eight.
Josh Brown's mum is in disbelief 🥲@erinvholland | #BBL13 pic.twitter.com/7DEzsMXeWA
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 22, 2024
The heartwarming interaction reached its pinnacle when Holland informed Mrs. Brown that her son had broken the record for the highest score in BBL knockout history, leading to a moment of ecstatic celebration.