In one of the most astonishing nights in Big Bash League history, the Brisbane Heat have pulled off the competition's greatest ever run chase, hunting down a mammoth target set by the Perth Scorchers with just one ball to spare at the Gabba.
A Record-Shattering Night of Batting Carnage
The stage was set for an epic when the Perth Scorchers, powered by explosive innings from Finn Allen and Cooper Connolly, posted a franchise-record total of 6-257. The visitors smashed a BBL-record 18 sixes during their innings, with Allen blasting 79 off 38 balls and Connolly 77 off 37. Yet, in a remarkable twist, the Heat would later match that exact six-hitting tally.
The aggregate of 515 runs marked the first time the 500-run barrier had been broken in the BBL, while the total of 36 maximums was easily the highest ever in a league match. The game was played in front of 24,277 stunned fans who witnessed a relentless barrage of boundaries.
Heat Heroes Rise From the Ashes
Brisbane's pursuit began disastrously, losing Colin Munro first ball. Their plight worsened when captain Nathan McSweeney suffered a game-ending left ankle injury while fielding. At 2-36, the chase seemed impossible.
The match turned on a pivotal moment. Matt Renshaw, on 13, chipped a catch to mid-off, but was called back to the crease after replays showed Jhye Richardson had bowled a front-foot no-ball. Given a second life, Renshaw and Jack Wildermuth proceeded to launch an unprecedented assault.
The pair forged a monumental, record-breaking 212-run partnership, the highest in BBL history. Renshaw, whose name has been in Ashes discussions, raced to 102 off just 51 balls, including nine sixes, before a late run-out. Wildermuth, whose previous BBL best was 31, played the innings of his life, finishing unbeaten on 110 from 54 balls, also hitting nine sixes.
"I still don’t really believe it. A bit of a pinch-me moment, a lot of goosebumps," Renshaw said post-match. "A lot of people probably put us out of the contest... Just that never-say-die attitude."
Drama to the Very Last Ball
The frenetic finish included another freak injury, with Heat batsman Max Bryant retiring hurt in the final over after appearing to dislocate his left shoulder slipping while turning for a run. Amid the chaos, Wildermuth kept his nerve, striking the winning runs off the penultimate delivery to seal an eight-wicket victory.
For the Scorchers, it was a bitter pill after such a dominant batting display. Opener Mitch Marsh fell cheaply again for three, but Connolly and Allen's heroics had seemingly put the game beyond reach. Allen was dropped on four and 44 on his way to a career-best BBL score.
"It’s a hell of a game for Big Bash cricket — it’s exciting," a gracious Connolly said after the loss. "Unfortunately, we weren’t on the winning side of it. Credit to Wildermuth and Renshaw, they played superb knocks."
The Heat's successful chase of 258 is now the third-highest successful run chase in T20 history worldwide, cementing this Gabba clash as an instant classic of Australian cricket.
