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Match Report:

Scorecard

Sixers unable to handle Heat

Burns, Simmons post fifties before Swepson, Cutting snare doubles to bowl Brisbane to victory

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The match in a tweet: Season (all but) over for 6ers! Burns/Simmons smash 50s to help Heat to 8-162 - a total they defend, winning by 6 runs to keep wooden spoon battle alive #BBL05

The shot: Jimmy Peirson put on one the roof. Yep, the roof! Watch below.  

Watch: "It's on the roof!"


The heroes: After three globes, Lendl Simmons (54 from 30) finally came good with a half-century, and Test batsman Joe Burns (60 from 51) followed suit to help Brisbane Heat post a competitive total. The pair put on 73 in eight overs to add some much-needed impetus to the Heat innings, putting their side in a strong position to build a competitive total. 

Watch: Burns returns with half-century

The moment: Debutant leg-spinner Mitch Swepson had dropped Brad Haddin on the boundary, then Lendl Simmons had committed exactly the same crime, leaving the former Aussie wicketkeeper-batsman to take the match deep into the closing stages. With 37 needed off 17, Haddin lashed at a slower ball, it sliced to short third man, and Swepson held a very good catch to remove the man most likely to take the Sixers to victory. 

The support cast: The Heat's leg-spinning pair - veteran Samuel Badree and debutant Swepson. Badree didn't take a wicket but was typically economical in taking 0-21 from four early in the innings to heap the pressure on the Sixers. Swepson earned Twitter praise from Shane Warne and found a little extra bounce for his first wicket in the big time - that of fellow debutant Nick Larkin - before Jordan Silk missed a straight one.

Watch: Swepson spins out two on debut

The consolation effort: Sean Abbott didn't get a bowl until the 18th over but Brad Haddin might regret not bringing him on earlier. Abbott was the man on the receiving end of Travis Head's fireworks on New Year's Eve, but bounced back with three wickets for just eight runs in his two-over spell to end the Sixers' bowling innings in style. Michael Lumb continued a consistent season, making 47 at the top of the order, while Brad Haddin rode his luck all the way, taking the match down to the wire and entertaining the 24,192 strong SCG crowd with a series of impressive lofted drives. 

Watch: Hobbling Haddin hits out

The stat: The Sixers made the final four in BBL|01, BBL|03, and BBL|04. It looks like this will be just the second season the Sixers miss the finals - barring a miracle this week.

The wash-up: The Heat's victory is a sweet consolation for the men in teal and keeps the battle for the wooden spoon well and truly alive. And while you can all but write the Sixers off for the season, they'll be desperate to ruin the Thunder's hopes of making a maiden finals appearance.

The next stop: The Heat travel to Melbourne for their final match of BBL|05 on Thursday, where they take on the Stars, while the Sixers face crosstown rivals the Thunder, back at the SCG, next Saturday night. 

The hero:

The support cast:

The consolation efforts: