Last-ball madness! Unbeaten Heat finals-bound after rain delay ...

Cricket’s X-Man is bowling with superpowers right now and the Hobart Hurricanes had no answers when he was triggering the collapse that ruined their visit to the Gabba on Sunday night.

Brisbane Heat paceman Xavier Bartlett was already the Big Bash League’s leading wicket-taker before his three wickets in nine balls had the Hurricanes reeling at 4-22.

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It was full credit to the Hurricanes (9-116) that they turned the night into a last-ball thriller which went to the Heat (7-132) by one run after a rain-adjusted chase. Hurricanes captain Nathan Ellis needed three off the final ball to win it but could manage only a single as desperate partner Paddy Dooley was run out.

Surprise weapon Nikhil Chaudhary had hoisted a six off the first ball of the final over when 13 were needed for the upset against the bowling of Englishman Paul Walter. It was “Tall Paul” who held his nerve...he had Chaudhary (58 off 38 balls) sky a hook to remove the dangerman and dried up the runs with his final deliveries.

BARTLETT WINS PRAISE

Former Test paceman Brett Lee, as a Fox Sports commentator, was full of praise for Bartlett’s 3-30 and his BBL-leading 13 scalps to date.

“The Heat are hunting in packs with the ball and it all seems to be coming together perfectly. Bartlett bowled beautifully with an excellent seam position,” Lee said of his man-of-the-match.

The Hurricanes had bowled beautifully to restrict the unbeaten Heat to 7-132 but it was a pitch with zip and swing and they did not fare well against it themselves.

Bartlett nicked off Mac Wright (0) and Sam Hain (0) with successive balls in his opening over with superb balls nipping off the seam.

With 14 points, they are already guaranteed a finals spot with two games against the Perth Scorchers still to play.

KEY INNINGS FROM THE SKIPPER

Only Heat opener Colin Munro (56 off 47 balls) stayed for any length of time. He showed urgency but really only exploded in one over when he blazed 20 off spinner Nikhil Chaudhary.

The leftie lifted two drives over the fence off the shorter boundary and savagely pulled another four.

Munro rated the Heat total as 20 runs light.

LIFE OF RILEY

This was why speedster Riley Meredith was a great white-ball hope when selected for one-day and T20 duty for Australia in 2021.

He bowled quick and straight, in the mid-140km per hour range. Excellent deliveries nipped by the outside edge of Josh Brown, Nathan McSweeney and Sam Billings in a quality effort of 0-15 off four overs.

The Hurricanes strike weapon was at his best.

THE WHIRLING WINDMILL

Left-arm spinner Paddy Dooley has a cult following with his whirling windmill action and nowhere more than in pockets of Brisbane.

He might have been the Hurricanes bowler who got Heat top-scorer Colin Munro clubbing into the deep but his fan club is deep in his hometown of Brisbane.

He had Wests clubmates, old Brisbane Grammar mates and family in the crowd of 27,124 at the Gabba.

TEAMS

HeatXI: Colin Munro (c), Josh Brown, Matthew Renshaw, Sam Billings (wk), Nathan McSweeney, Paul Walter, Michael Neser, Xavier Bartlett, Spencer Johnson, Mitch Swepson, Matt Kuhnemann

Hurricanes XI: Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott (wk), Mac Wright, Sam Hain, Corey Anderson, Tim David, Nikhil Chaudhary, Chris Jordan, Paddy Dooley, Nathan Ellis (c), Riley Meredith

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MATCH PREVIEW

The ladder leading Brisbane Heat host the Hobart Hurricanes in a blockbuster clash at The Gabba.

The Hurricanes have won the bat flip and will bowl first.

The Heat are coming off a DLS win over the Sixers in a shortened match, while the fifth placed Hurricanes are coming off a big win over the Renegades.

Josh Brown and Colin Munro will be the danger men with the bat for the Heat, while Michael Neser and Mitchell Swepson have been in good form with the ball.

For the Hurricanes, Caleb Jewell and Ben McDermott have been in hot form with the bat, while Riley Meredith and skipper Nathan Ellis will lead the charge with the ball.

It sets the scene for a crucial clash with both sides looking to cement their spot in the top five ahead of the finals.