Xavier Bartlett and Mujeeb Ur Rahman Bowl Brisbane Heat to Comeback Victory

Xavier Bartlett bounced back from final-over heartache to help Brisbane Heat to a confidence-boosting 14-run win over the Hobart Hurricanes. Bartlett took a career-best 4 for 30 after the Heat earlier posted 8 for 150 on the back of some late lusty hitting from allrounder James Bazley who top-scored in tricky Bellerive Oval conditions with an unbeaten 44 from 27 deliveries at No. 8. Bartlett struck two big blows early in the chase, getting rid of in-form opener Ben McDermott after his back-to-back hundreds and skipper Matthew Wade in the second over. He returned for the power surge in the 14th over to remove Tim David and D’Arcy Short, who departed off a top edge for a sluggish 27 from 38 balls. Bartlett had bowled the final over in Heat’s two-wicket loss to the Sydney Sixers on Wednesday, conceding a single off the last delivery in a game they should have won. Mujeeb Ur Rahman was outstanding in the middle overs, picking up Harry Brook and Peter Handscomb to finish with 3 for 20 at an economy rate of five runs per over. Hurricanes’ middle order struggled to pick his variations with Jordan Thompson bowled by a carrom ball from around the wicket. Lower-order batter Tom Rogers gave Hurricanes a glimmer of hope in the final few overs but his side finished short. It was an impressive win by the Heat who were in a spot of bother at 2 for 16 at the end of the powerplay after being sent in and later 6 for 77. Heat skipper Jimmy Peirson, who has struggled for runs this tournament, was out for 5 in the second over when he edged Meredith to Wade. Bazley shared a crucial 42-run stand with Jack Wildermuth, who hit 28 from 21 deliveries after being brought in as an X-factor player and also bowled four overs that went for just 20 runs. Rogers earlier starred with the ball for the Hurricanes with 2 for 15 from four overs, while quick Nathan Ellis took 3 for 41 including the big wicket of Chris Lynn.