Zaman Khan's stunning final over keeps Heat alive

In a dramatic finish, Brisbane Heat snatched victory from the jaws of defeat as Zaman Khan produced a nerveless final over to defend six runs and keep his team's finals hopes alive with a remarkable three-run win over table-toppers Hobart Hurricanes at Bellerive Oval.

The defending champions appeared to be cruising towards victory at 124 for 2 in the 15th over, needing just 37 runs from 32 balls with eight wickets in hand. What followed was a spectacular collapse as the Hurricanes lost 4 for 7 in 13 balls, failing to score the required runs in what should have been a comfortable chase.

After being sent in to bat by Hurricanes skipper Nathan Ellis, Brisbane Heat managed 160 for 8 thanks to crucial contributions from Nathan McSweeney (49) and Matt Renshaw (37). The Heat were well-placed at 110 for 2 before losing momentum in the death overs, eventually finishing with what appeared to be a below-par total on a batting-friendly Bellerive surface.

Ben McDermott looked in ominous touch during the chase, racing to 59 off just 36 balls with a typically aggressive display. He found an able ally in Beau Webster, who contributed a solid 51 as the pair put the Hurricanes in complete control. At 124 for 2, the match seemed all but over, with the Hurricanes heading towards a win that would have guaranteed them a top-of-the-table finish.

Then came the collapse. Xavier Bartlett set up a tense finale by removing Rehan Ahmed and Chris Jordan in the penultimate over, giving Zaman something to defend in the final over. The pressure mounted with each dismissal as the required run rate, which had seemed irrelevant moments earlier, suddenly became a source of anxiety.

With the Hurricanes needing six runs off the final over bowled by Zaman but with only three wickets in hand, the match was still in the balance. But Zaman, playing only his second BBL game, held his nerve magnificently. The Pakistani pacer stuck to his strengths, bowling full and outside off that denied the Hurricanes batters any swinging room. The key moment came on the penultimate delivery when he had Nikhil Chaudhary caught at wide long-on.

Matt Renshaw will also take back some credit for an outstanding boundary save in the 18th over, pulling off a spectacular stop on the deep-midwicket boundary that saved five crucial runs and kept the margin tight enough for the Heat to have a chance.

The result has massive ramifications for the BBL finals race. The Hurricanes' loss leaves the door open for either Melbourne Stars or Perth Scorchers to potentially claim top spot, as Hobart have now completed their regular season fixtures. Brisbane Heat, meanwhile, jumped to fourth on the table and remain in the playoff hunt, though they still need results to go their way with six teams still alive in the finals race.

Brief scores:Brisbane Heat 160/8 in 20 overs (Nathan McSweeney 49, Matt Renshaw 37; Riley Meredith 3-40) beat Hobart Hurricanes 157/8 in 20 overs (Beau Webster 51, Ben McDermott 59; Xavier Bartlett 3-44) by 3 runs.