Henriques stars as Sixers cruise into Big Bash League final

Visitors needed super over to defeat Brisbane Heat and managed to win by seven runs

Australia all-rounder Moises Henriques produced a sublime batting performance to help Sydney Sixers beat Brisbane Heat in the super over by seven runs at Gabba, Brisbane on Wednesday to set up a final clash with Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League.

The 29-year-old played a breathtaking innings of 64 off just 34 balls with the help of five fours and three sixes in a chase of 168, as he, along with opener Daniel Hughes (46 off 27 balls), added 99 runs for the third wicket to nearly seal a comfortable victory for the visitors.

However, once Hughes got out in the 15^th over, Heat made a remarkable comeback, courtesy attacking captaincy from Brisbane Heat skipper Brandon McCullum, who used his bowlers to great effect and made sure his team stays in the game till the last over.

With six runs needed off the last six balls, McCullum brought back all-rounder Ben Cutting to bowl the deciding over, who gave away just five runs and also picked up a controversial wicket of Johan Botha to take the game into the super over.

In the one-over eliminator, Henriques decided to come in along with New Zealand’s Colin Munro, and the duo struck two sixes and one four to set up a target of 23 for the hosts. Heat, meanwhile, fell seven runs short of the target and only managed 15.

Earlier, after being put into bat first, skipper McCullum’s blistering innings of 46 off 27 balls helped Heat reach 167-9 in their allotted 20 overs.

Former Kiwis captain struck four boundaries and three sixes in his short innings, and he was well supported by pacer Jake Wildermuth, who scored a quick-fire 29 off 16 balls studded with two fours and as many sixes.

For Sixers, Abbott and off-spinner Nathan Lyon claimed four wickets each.

Henriques, for his outstanding batting performance, was awarded man of the match.