Superb Strikers end Heat's season

The match in a tweet: Heat beat! Season over for Brisbane boys as Strikers comfortably chase 176 with 7 wkts in hand thanks to 50s from Mahela/Ludes/Head #BBL05

The hero: We all knew Mahela Jayawardena was a gifted batsman but perhaps his toughness has been somewhat under-rated. The Sri Lankan burst out of the blocks with a series of fours and sixes as the Heat quicks decided to test him out with the short ball. After a quad injury had him hobbling (more on that below), he carried on regardless, determined to continue a sensational innings (highlighted by a straight six from Badree), overcoming the injury and even a nasty blow on the grill of his helmet to post a crucial 53 (30) as he put the Strikers very much on target.  

Watch: Jayawardena's amazing 50

The victim: After two overs, Andrew Fekete's bowling figures read 0-40. The fringe Aussie rep was hammered by first Jayawardena and later Travis Head, and can at least take solace from the fact that he's hardly Robinson Crusoe in that department this summer.  

The moment: The Strikers needed 59 from the final six overs. Traditionally, 10 an over has been quite the ask. But evidently Head isn't one for traditions; the left-hander spanked three sixes as 21 runs were taken from the over and all of a sudden, it was a little more than a run a ball to get the job done.

Watch: Head smashes 50 off 25

The support cast: Adil Rashid took the key wickets of Chris Lynn and Ben Cutting, and as economical in the process. It was a brilliant spell of 2-17 from one of the buys of the season. Tim Ludeman (57no from 49) struggled in the first half of BBL|05 but looks to have come good recently. Tonight he made an excellent half-century, revelling in taking a back-seat to the aggressive Jayawardena and pacing the run chase perfectly. Speaking of nice timing, Travis Head is in rare touch. Head raced to 50 from 24 balls before anyone had blinked, smashing four sixes in the process. He holed out moments later but in the head-to-head battle with fellow Big Bash superstar Lynn, he won by knockout.

Watch: Adil's decisive spell

The consolation effort: Jimmy Peirson, take a bow. When Lynn (34) went, the Heat could have folded, such has the reliability been on the skipper this season, but Peirson showed he was capable of some entertaining strokeplay in his own right, hitting three sixes in a quality innings of 51 (36) that helped get his side to a strong total.

Watch: Peirson sparks the Heat

The stat: We'll give you two. West Indian opener Lendl Simmons became the first player to register three ducks in one BBL season. To be fair, he was a little unlucky – out lbw to Michael Neser from a delivery that looked to be sliding down leg side. On the flipside, the Strikers top three all posted half-centuries - that's the first time that's been done in BBL history. 

The injury: Jayawardena went for a quick single and paid the price, his age catching up with him as he injured a quad. But the veteran wasn't calling it a night; instead, he got some treatment, had it strapped, and went on his merry way, limping to a superb half-century. The Strikers will be hoping beyond hope that he pulls up OK on the 'morrow.

Watch: Jayawardena's injury

The 'Lynn watch': Such has been his impact on this tournament, he gets his own category. He threatened a repeat of his big-hitting best tonight, with five fours and a six, but didn't influence the match as he'd have liked. Still, it was an entertaining cameo. Watch below. 

Watch: Lynn with some more Big Bashes!

The wash-up: That's it for the Heat. Season over. They needed to win the remainder of their fixtures but instead are now staring down the barrel of consecutive wooden spoons. For the Strikers, it's the opposite story – they're top of the pile as we head towards finals and appear to be only growing in confidence.

The next stops: The Heat travel to the SCG for a clash with the Sixers on Sunday night, while the Strikers face the Hurricanes next Wednesday at the Adelaide Oval.