Heat break through for first BBL|08 win

The match in a tweet: Cutting delivers with bat, Mujeeb fires with ball as the Heat squeeze past Scorchers in Perth #BBL|08

The score: Perth Scorchers 6-135 (Turner 47; Mujeeb 2-10, Cutting 2-41) lost to Brisbane Heat 5-139 (Lynn 33, Cutting 26no; Coulter-Nile 3-25) by five wickets with 10 balls remaining 

The hero: Teenage spin sensation Mujeeb Ur Rahman arrived at Brisbane Heat with a reputation of bamboozling some of the world’s best batsmen, and tonight he delivered his best spell of BBL|08 to befuddle Perth Scorchers on their home deck. The 17-year-old from Afghanistan collected 2-10 from a probing four overs, doubling his tournament wicket tally. The youngest player to ever sign a full BBL contract sent down 16 dot balls and claimed the big wickets of Michael Klinger and Mitchell Marsh. Mujeeb has four scalps to his name from as many matches, but his economy rate of 5.56 is ultra-impressive. With 54 wickets from 31 games at international level, it’s clear he has a bright future.

The supporting cast: The Heat's Ben Cutting took centre stage when the game was on the line to lead his team to their first win of BBL|08. Big-hitting Cutting hammered 20 runs – two fours and two sixes – from the 18th over, which was bowled by Jhye Richardson, to seal victory. Cutting’s onslaught left the Heat needing one run to win from the final two overs of the match. Cutting finished unbeaten on 26 from 16 balls and combined with Joe Burns (20 not out) for an unbroken 47-run stand. The allrounder also grabbed two wickets at Optus Stadium. Heat skipper Chris Lynn made an important 33 at No.3 for the visiting side.

The consolation acts: Ashton Turner was the standout in the Scorchers’ innings, hitting 47 from 30 balls as the rest of his teammates struggled to build momentum. He struck four boundaries and a six, backing up knocks of 60 not out and 49 earlier in the tournament. Turner didn’t field after hurting his shoulder during his impressive innings. Nathan Coulter-Nile also produced an impressive spell of bowling, returning 3-25 from his four overs, which included 10 dot balls.

The big six: This blow from Cutting late in the Heat’s innings deserves another look!

The young gun: Mujeeb showed his tricks midway through the Scorchers’ innings, setting up opener Klinger with a wrong ‘un before having the veteran batsman stumped off the next delivery. We’ll let the video explain the rest, but it was classy stuff from the young gun…

The catch: Brendon McCullum has had a tough run with the bat so far this tournament, but the former New Zealand skipper and Heat Bash Brother was on fire in the field tonight with this fine catch...

The big outs: The Scorchers, who are now languishing at 1-5, will be without four key members of their squad for at least their next three games with Richardson, Jason Behrendorff and the Marsh brothers selected in Australia’s ODI squad for the coming three-match series against India.

The stat: Cameron Bancroft took 10 balls to get off the mark at Optus Stadium, setting a new BBL record. Usman Khawaja took nine balls to score his first run in BBL|07.

The next stops: The Heat will face Sydney Thunder away from home at Spotless Stadium on Tuesday, while the Scorchers will meet Melbourne Stars at the MCG on Wednesday.