Heat rewrite BBL history with record 258 chase against Scorchers

In an incredible display of power-hitting at the Gabba, Brisbane Heat pulled off the highest successful run chase in Big Bash League history, hunting down a target of 258 against the Perth Scorchers with a ball to spare. For the first time in T20 cricket history, two batters scored centuries in the same run chase as Matt Renshaw and Jack Wildermuth forged a 212-run stand to guide the Heat to a stunning eight-wicket victory.

The Perth Scorchers' innings was a record-breaking spectacle in its own right. After choosing to bat, they posted a massive 257/6, the second-highest total in BBL history. Finn Allen (79 off 38) and Cooper Connolly (77 off 37) decimated the Heat's bowling attack, sharing an exhilarating 142-run partnership that featured 14 combined sixes.

Nick Hobson provided the finishing touch with an unbeaten 48, leaving the Heat with a seemingly impossible mountain to climb. The Heat's bowlers struggled to stem the flow, with even the seasoned Shaheen Afridi conceding 49 runs in a difficult spell. Xavier Bartlett was the pick of the bowlers, with two wickets, but he leaked runs at 11 RPO in his four-over quota.

Heat's response then defied all expectations. Despite losing captain Colin Munro for a golden duck on the very first ball of the chase to Jhye Richardson, the Heat did not waver. Renshaw and Wildermuth came together to stage a breathtaking counter-attack, putting on a record partnership that kept the required run rate within reach. Renshaw was the first to reach his milestone, in 48 balls. His knock included nine massive sixes, before being run out late in the innings.

Wildermuth remained until the end to see the job through, finishing unbeaten on 110 from just 54 deliveries. His knock was a masterclass in clean hitting, clearing the boundary nine times and finding the rope with five fours. The pair's twin tons ensured that the Scorchers' formidable bowling unit had no answers for the onslaught.

Brief scores: Perth Scorchers 257/6 in 20 overs (Finn Allen 79, Cooper Connolly 77; Xavier Bartlett 2-44) lost to Brisbane Heat 258/2 in 19.5 overs (Jack Wildermuth 110*, Matt Renshaw 102) by 8 wickets