Heat ends Strikers' finals hopes

Brisbaen Heat players, including man of the match Daniel Vettori, celebrate the stumping of Adelaide batsman Jono Dean. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: Sarah Reed / News Limited

BRISBANE ended the Adelaide Strikers' fading Big Bash League finals hopes - and kept its own slim chances alive - with a 32-run victory at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

The reigning champions defended a modest 129, rolling the Strikers for just 97 in front of 20,533 fans to kill off Adelaide's Twenty20 season in the do-or-die clash.

The Heat's brilliant bowling resistance was led by veteran Kiwi spinner Dan Vettori, whose 2/10 from four overs was the fourth-most economical return in Big Bash League history.

Ryan Harris, fresh off his Ashes heroics, finished with 2/14 from 3.2 overs, including the final wicket, while Cam Gannon's 3/11 in two overs mopped up the Strikers' lower order.

The Heat's effort with the ball was the perfect response to a Strikers attack that racked up 52 dot balls in Brisbane's innings - a record for BBL3.

Set 130 to win, the Strikers' run chase suffered an early setback when opening pair Alex Hales (three off seven balls) and Michael Klinger (17 from 19) fell inside the first five overs.

Adelaide was puzzled from the start by Vettori's tweakers and never recovered. The Heat dried up the Strikers' scoring options and when Jono Dean (two off four) was stumped trying to hit out against the left-armer the home side was struggling at 3/24 after six.

Adelaide Strikers captain Johan Botha celebrates a wicket. Picture: Sarah Reed.

Phil Hughes edged behind off James Hopes in the eighth over and Adelaide was suddenly in a deep hole at 4/31.

It took until midway through the 11th over for the Strikers to limp to 50 as Nathan Reardon and Tim Ludeman fought to resurrect Adelaide's innings.

The pair put on 46 in 39 balls before Ludeman was caught behind trying to drive James Hopes and skipper Johan Botha (0) was gone after just two uncomfortable deliveries from Harris.

When Michael Neser (five off five) was caught on the square leg boundary to leave the Strikers at 7/87 Adelaide still needed 43 from 24 balls.

The equation drifted from difficult to beyond reach seven balls later when Reardon (33 from 35) drove an easy catch to Mark Steketee in the deep.

Adelaide had given itself a chance by holding Brisbane to a below-par 129, dousing the visitors' batting firepower through the spin of Botha.

The off-spinner removed danger pair Luke Pomersbach (20 off 16 balls) and Chris Lynn (three off six) - bowling both as they looked to lift the run rate.

Botha finished with a superb 2/11 from his four overs - overshadowed only by Vettori's damaging spell later in the afternoon.

Debutant Ben McDermott did well to survive a Shaun Tait bouncer that left a crater in the side of his helmet. The son of former Test quick Craig not only stayed upright, he barely even flinched as he called for a new lid.

The 19-year-old should have departed on 18 after skying Kane Richardson in the infield but Jon Holland, looking into the sun, grassed the chance.

Craig Kieswetter was the best of the batsman with 51 off 46, including three sixes, but eventually fell to Tait in the 17th over when wicketkeeper Ludeman gloved a brilliant catch at full stretch from a soaring top edge.

A steady stream of late wickets denied the Heat any chance of pushing past 130. But in the end, Brisbane's bowling performance ensured it didn't matter.

McDermott's dogged innings ended in the 18th over when he holed out in the deep for 30. Ben Cutting fell the next over after when he was beaten by Tait's pace and Vettori lasted just two balls before he played across a Kane Richardson delivery in the final over.

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