Brisbane Heat skipper becomes most prolific batsman in BBL history after a typically power-packed performance at the Gabba
Bash king Lynn seizes run-scoring record
The Brisbane Heat might be staring down the barrel of a fruitless KFC Big Bash campaign but superstar skipper Chris Lynn at least provided 21,254 faithful fans with some of his famous pyrotechnics on Friday night at the Gabba, and a tournament record to go with them.
When he moved to 30 with his third six of a typically power-packed performance, Lynn became the competition's all-time leading run-scorer, passing Michael Klinger's record of 1,917, achieved with Perth Scorchers and Adelaide Strikers across eight seasons and 70 innings.
Lynn overtook Klinger in his 60th innings, and the right-hander's numbers make impressive reading: among the top 20 run-scorers in BBL history, he has the highest strike-rate (150.89) and the fourth-best average (40.52).
When it comes to six hitting, he is in another stratosphere, having plundered 123 maximums in his eight summers at the Heat – almost double his nearest rival, Aaron Finch, who has 67.
He finished the night unbeaten on 56 from 39 deliveries, taking the record runs mark to 1,945 with his 16th half-century – also the most in the tournament's history ahead of Finch's 15.
"You look at all the stats – the top runs, the averages and strike-rates – and Lynny's up there with the best in all those categories," said Heat teammate Matt Renshaw.
"He knows he can hit balls out of the ground but this year he's been really good with choosing which one.
"Teams are trying to work out different plans to him now, and he's evolving through that as well."
Lynn has had a hit-and-miss kind of tournament but the right-hander is in some ways a victim of his own success; when he doesn't light up a match with a six-laden half-century, it's generally deemed a disappointment.
But with only a couple of rounds to play in the season, the 28-year-old's runs tally of 385 has been bettered in BBL|08 only by standout Hurricanes pair D'Arcy Short (567) and Matthew Wade (487).
And it's more than his batting that his teammates appreciate.
Chris Lynn now the highest run-scorer in BBL history, with 1,919 runs (overtakes Klinger's 1,917). Of those runs, 726 - or 37.83% - have come in sixes #BBL08— Adam Burnett (@AdamBurnett09) February 1, 2019
"His captaincy's probably gone under the radar this year," Renshaw added. "All the little stuff, he's been really good.
"I know he's helped me get through the first journey of my Big Bash career."
Paceman Josh Lalor agrees, going as far as to suggest Lynn's style has helped develop the Heat's philosophy as a club.
"Lynny's record speaks for itself," Lalor said.
"A lot of our cricket, as a group, is built on the way that Chris plays, which is making the opposition uncomfortable – and that's a really big ace that we have up our sleeve every game.
"I'm sure he'd be one of the guys in the competition that other guys don't want to play."
The Heat head to Adelaide to face the Strikers on Sunday night, with their mathematical chances of making the finals ultimately reliant upon them winning their final two games, as well as other results going their way.