Match Recap: Heat defeat Stars

Match in a tweet: Stars lose the unlosable as Heat's bowlers set up a remarkable victory.

The hero: Beth Mooney did a stunning job to anchor the Heat's innings by scoring her second fifty of the season. Known for her ability to hit the ball over the top during the power play, Mooney hit the ball along the carpet, as she built her innings nicely. Mooney reached 34 from 35 balls before shifting gears in the death overs. Shuffling across her stumps Mooney continued to whip balls pitching outside off-stump through the vacant leg-side with ease. Mooney found the ropes on four occasions and also managed to clip one on to the grass banks in her innings of 55 off 50 balls. 

The collapse: Spinners Jemma Barsby and Smriti Mandhana were the catalyst to the Heat's remarkable victory. With the Stars requiring 42 from 47 balls and with all 10 wickets in hand, Mandhana applied the choke with her crafty off-spin. India superstar picked up wickets of the Emma Inglis (41) to change the tide. Barsby was equally impressive, snaring the experienced Jess Cameron (6) and lower order batter Emma Kearney (4) before holding her nerve in the final over to give the Heat a famous victory.    

The collision: Brisbane Heat’s star West Indian recruit Deandra Dottin and Laura Harris were involved in a nasty collision as they converged on the boundary rope trying to stop a Meg Lanning boundary. Both suffered heavy falls, Harris hitting the picket fence hard while Dottin appeared to land on a team kit bag just in front of the fence.

The skipper: Delissa Kimmince was absolutely inspirational as a leader and in the field. Kimmince took two brilliant catches to apply the pressure on the Stars lower order. Then with 17 required off 12 balls, Kimmince bowled a superb 19th over, in which she conceded only five runs to put the Head in the box seat.  

The consolation act: In the third over the Stars score read 0-25, incredibly Meg Lanning had scored all the runs. She started her assault with a vicious pull off Deandra Dottin from just the second ball she faced. Lanning had already sent the ball scorching to the fence on five occasions in her first 10 balls. Lanning's innings of 97 might have started with a touch of power but today it was all about timing. The softer she hit the ball the quicker it flew to the fence. Lanning reached her fifty from just 41 balls striking nine fours along the way. 

The six: We have seen sixes land in many different places but this one from Emma Inglis ended up perfectly in a cricket bag that was stationed beyond the ropes. Call that perfect placement.

Next stop: The Heat have a week to regroup before taking on the Thunder in Sydney on 2nd January. The Stars will head back home to prepare for the New Year’s Day blockbuster against the Renegades.