In a match that will be remembered for years, the Brisbane Heat triumphed over the Perth Scorchers in the highest-scoring game in Big Bash League (BBL) history, chasing down a mammoth total at the Gabba with just one delivery to spare. The encounter was a showcase of power-hitting, tactical batting, and nerve-racking cricket, setting new records for both the most runs scored and sixes hit in a single BBL match.
The Scorchers, tasked with batting first after losing the toss, unleashed a relentless assault on the Brisbane bowlers, smashing 18 sixes across their 20 overs. This effort broke the previous BBL record of 17 sixes in an innings and propelled them to a colossal total of 6-257, the second-highest in competition history. Perth’s innings eclipsed their previous highest-ever score of 229 against the Melbourne Stars in 2022, highlighting the extraordinary form of their batting lineup.
Despite the overwhelming target, the Heat ensured that the records for both the match’s total runs and sixes were broken. Matthew Renshaw and Jack Wildermuth were the architects of Brisbane’s historic chase, both producing outstanding centuries under intense pressure to guide the Heat to an eight-wicket victory.
Cooper Connolly, who starred for the Scorchers with a personal best of 77 from 37 balls, praised the Heat duo for their brilliance. “It’s a hell of a Big Bash game, it’s a great advertisement for the game, it’s exciting,” he said.
He added insight into the Scorchers’ mindset during the chase:
“We were always in the game, we felt. We looked up and it was still 12 an over (required), so we felt like we were definitely in the game, it wasn’t like we were ever out of the game, it went down to the second-last ball. There’s a lot of positives for us as a group that we can take out of it, so we’ll keep moving forward.”
The Scorchers began their innings with a flourish, seizing the early momentum. Connolly and Finn Allen combined to deliver a white-hot 142-run second-wicket stand, smashing 14 sixes between them. After an early dismissal of Mitch Marsh, who managed only three runs before succumbing to a Xavier Bartlett bouncer, Connolly and Allen rebuilt the innings in magnificent fashion. Allen’s 79 from 37 balls was complemented perfectly by Connolly’s own explosive knock, ensuring Perth maintained their high scoring pace.
Though the innings started cautiously, with the Scorchers waiting until the fourth over to clear the boundary for their first six, they soon found their rhythm. Allen greeted spinner Matthew Kuhnemann’s introduction by launching three deliveries into the crowd, signaling the start of a relentless assault. Connolly joined the attack soon after, sending Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi over his head for a six and following it with two more off Kuhnemann in the next over, reaching his half-century in the process. Allen too achieved his milestone in dramatic fashion, continuing the onslaught.
Perth’s lower order ensured that the momentum never faltered. Ashton Turner contributed 12 from five balls, including a reverse-sweep six, while Aaron Hardie added a brisk 23 from 12 balls, punishing Liam Haskett with a pair of towering shots. Nick Hobson capped the innings with 26 from 11 balls, smashing a trademark slog over mid-wicket to secure the record-breaking total.
As impressive as Perth’s batting was, Brisbane’s chase was equally extraordinary. The Heat faced a daunting required run rate of nearly 13 per over, yet Renshaw and Wildermuth attacked the short boundaries with precision. Both batsmen benefited from reprieves during their innings. Renshaw survived a caught-and-bowled chance off Jhye Richardson when replays showed Richardson had marginally overstepped, while Wildermuth escaped a high catch on 42 off Turner.
Renshaw brought up his century with a patient approach, taking a single off Richardson in the 15th over before being run out attempting a second on 102 from 51 balls. Wildermuth, however, remained unbeaten, scoring 110 not out from 54 balls, with Max Bryant supporting with 28 from 16 balls, ensuring Brisbane crossed the line without a hiccup.
The Scorchers’ bowlers struggled to contain the Heat’s assault, with Connolly being the only one to maintain a below-10 run rate across his two overs. Reflecting on his bowling, Connolly admitted, “It was a really crucial period of the game. To be honest, I was trying to bowl six yorkers. Luckily enough, I executed. I missed one, but other days, that can go the other way and I miss a lot and I get smacked.”
Jhye Richardson did provide a brief moment of hope for Perth, capturing a wicket with the first ball of Brisbane’s innings by having former Scorcher Colin Munro caught at point by Ashton Agar. However, the Heat’s relentless approach never wavered, and the sheer power of Renshaw and Wildermuth ultimately proved decisive.
This historic clash at the Gabba will be remembered not only for the records it set but also for the sheer excitement and drama it delivered. From the explosive batting of Connolly and Allen to the monumental chase by Renshaw and Wildermuth, the match was a masterclass in aggressive, high-intensity cricket.
The outcome demonstrates the evolving nature of the Big Bash League, where record-breaking innings and thrilling run chases have become a hallmark of the competition. For the Scorchers, there are lessons to be learned, particularly in bowling strategy under pressure, while the Heat can celebrate one of the most remarkable victories in BBL history.
Fans and cricket enthusiasts will look back on this encounter as a reminder of why the Big Bash League continues to captivate audiences with its combination of explosive batting, tactical brilliance, and nail-biting finishes.
