BRISBANE Heat were left heartbroken in their WBBL|12 season opener, falling agonisingly short of a remarkable comeback as Sydney Sixers snatched a thrilling four-wicket victory off the final delivery on Friday night.
In a contest packed with momentum swings, explosive batting and a dramatic collapse, the Heat appeared destined to pull off an extraordinary escape before Sixers veteran Sarah Coyte delivered the decisive blow.
With two runs required from the final ball, Coyte squeezed Lucy Hamilton past backward point for four, sealing victory as Sydney finished on 6-157 in pursuit of Brisbane’s 5-154.
It was a crushing conclusion for a Heat outfit desperate to end a WBBL victory drought stretching beyond 700 days.
Earlier, Brisbane recovered from the early dismissal of Grace Harris for three, with Charli Knott and new captain Georgia Redmayne combining for a commanding 97-run partnership.
Knott blasted 57 from 47 deliveries, including five boundaries and three sixes, while Redmayne marked her captaincy debut with an impressive 58 from 44 balls.
At 1-117 in the 15th over, Brisbane appeared poised for a formidable total before Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner sparked a Sixers fightback, claiming 2-25.
Sydney responded aggressively through Sophia Dunkley (37) and superstar Ellyse Perry, who appeared to have placed the visitors firmly in control.
However, Brisbane refused to surrender.
Sianna Ginger removed Amelia Kerr for 18, Sarah Glenn dismissed Gardner for two and Knott claimed the prized scalp of Perry for 58.
Suddenly, the Sixers had stumbled from 1-103 to 5-130, breathing new life into Brisbane’s hopes.
Knott finished with 2-25, Ginger claimed 2-31 and Glenn an economical 1-16.
Despite Alice Capsey’s unbeaten 21, the contest went down to the wire.
Defending five runs in the final over, Hamilton produced a courageous effort before Erin Burns was run out on the penultimate delivery.
But Coyte had the final say, finding the boundary to deny Brisbane a famous victory.
For the Heat, it was an opening-night thriller that delivered everything except the win.
