Moises Henriques, leading the Sydney Sixers, won the toss and opted to chase, a decision that paid off early as Jimmy Peirson was caught behind in the very first over.
However, the Brisbane Heat rallied from that point, reminiscent of their previous triumph in the challenger. Skipper Nathan McSweeney played a supporting role with a 32-ball 33, while Josh Brown accelerated, reaching a half-century in just 32 balls during an 85-run partnership off 67 deliveries.
After their departure in quick succession, Matt Renshaw took on the role of aggressor with a swift 40, striking at a rate exceeding 180, while Max Bryant contributed a brisk 29 in 19 deliveries, setting the stage for a substantial total. Nevertheless, a late surge by Sean Abbott resulted in impressive figures of 32/4, restricting the Heat to a manageable 166/8.
In response, the Sixers struggled against the formidable pace duo of Michael Neser and Spencer Johnson, who each claimed an opener within the powerplay, stifling the scoring rate early on. Josh Philippe (22) and Henriques (25) had to contend with a run-a-ball pace, but their resistance was short-lived.
Mitchell Swpeson, Paul Walter, and Johnson collaborated to reduce the Sixers from 56/2 to 94/8 in just six overs, with Johnson standing out with remarkable figures of 4/26. Xavier Bartlett concluded the Sixers’ ordeal by taking the remaining two wickets, including an impressive reflexive boundary catch by Neser.
HE’S DONE IT AGAIN! 🤯
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 24, 2024
Michael Neser – you absolute superstar. #BBL13 pic.twitter.com/yHxvNLCrwv
This sealed a 44-run victory, marking Brisbane Heat’s second triumph and etching their name in the history books once again after a heartbreaking final in the previous season.