Perth have cruised to an eight-wicket win over the battling Brisbane Heat with Josh Inglis and Aaron Hardie powering the chase with an unbroken 133-run stand
Match Report:
ScorecardScorchers cruise past Heat and into top spot
Brisbane have debuted their latest hidden gem but couldn't stop Perth cruising to the top of the KFC Big Bash League ladder.
The Scorchers chased down the Heat's 6-155 with eight wickets and 22 balls remaining at the Gabba on Wednesday night, their seventh win from nine starts.
The loss leaves the Heat flailing, three wins outside the top-five with just five games to play.
Josh Inglis scored 67 off 35 balls, sharing in a 131-run stand with Aaron Hardie (65 off 45), the pair unbeaten and untroubled after coming together with work to do at 2-25 in the fourth over.
Jason Behrendorff (3-21) did the first-innings damage for the visitors, named player of the match after running through the Heat's Test-bolstered batting order to pick up his 100th BBL scalp in the process.
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The Heat were in the contest early, left-arm quick Spencer Johnson (0-22 off 3.2 overs) impressive on debut with his pace and bounce almost unplayable.
The game turned when Usman Khawaja, captaining on his Heat debut after an off-season move from the Sydney Thunder, replaced Johnson with Marnus Labuschagne.
The leg-spinner was taken for 20 in his only over as Inglis and Hardie cashed in on some loose deliveries and poor fielding.
South Australian Johnson, 27, struggled with a serious ankle injury as a junior and played three one-dayers from the Redbacks as early as 2017.
First over in the @BBL by left-arm quick Spencer Johnson and Brett Lee was VERY impressed! What did you think? #BBL12 pic.twitter.com/sUzWX7bUTr%E2%80%94 cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 11, 2023
But he revived his career with a move to Brisbane last year.
Like fellow Heat surprise packet Josh Brown, he impressed in Brisbane's T20 competition and forced his way into the squad, finally earning a debut after the Heat left out regulars Mitchell Swepson and Mark Steketee.
Khawaja called on Johnson to bowl the power surge but by then Inglis was in full swing and Hardie finishing the chase with a powerful six over mid-on.
Earlier Behrendorff had the Heat's measure, Inglis dropping a tough chance off Khawaja before the Scorchers veteran dismissed Brown (18), Labuschagne (10) and Matt Renshaw (28) just as they were threatening to break free.
10/10 from Tye! The Scorchers' quick went at full pace and plucked it in his right mitt! #BBL12 | @BKTtires | #GoldenMoment pic.twitter.com/e7wrtQQid3%E2%80%94 cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 11, 2023
He bowled during the power surge that backfired on the hosts, who lost 2-11 in those two overs, before Max Bryant (36 off 27) finished well.
But after easily chasing the Heat's 171 in Perth just four days ago Perth were always fancied, Labuschagne's over only helping and the usually reliable Michael Neser (0-35 from three overs) also expensive.