Bryant, Bartlett secure victory for Brisbane Heat

Brisbane Heat defended superbly at the death to overcome Adelaide Strikers in a gutsy victory after a knee injury to quick Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Debutant Thomas Balkin stepped up and claimed two wickets in the final over to ensure Heat claimed their second win of the season.

It was the first game played at the Gabba since Heat and Scorchers combined for a record 515 runs on December 19. While the same surface was used, this nerve-jangling match was more of an even contest between bat and ball.

Heat struggled for fireworks in the first half of their innings, shackled by a disciplined and versatile Strikers attack. Quick Hasan Ali bowled well during several difficult phases to finish with 2 for 36 from 4 overs, but Heat did recover from 98-5 thanks to Max Bryant's 63 off 32 balls.

Chasing 180, Strikers were pinned down early with Shaheen conjuring swing and unleashing several menacing yorkers. Shaheen's opening two-over burst underlined his improving form, having started his BBL career with just two wickets from three matches and a grisly economy of almost 12.

Having seen off Shaheen, Matthew Short put the foot down and smashed consecutive sixes in the fifth over to speed past a scratchy Chris Lynn.

Lynn could never get going and his 24-ball 22 ended when he skied a return catch to Xavier Bartlett, who two balls later dismissed Mackenzie Harvey. Bartlett then found himself under a high ball from Liam Scott as he gleefully took the catch at long-on off Matthew Renshaw's part-time spin bowling.

Short remained the key and brought up his half-century in risky fashion when he almost fended a return catch to Shaheen, who undid his earlier good work to concede 19 runs in the 12th over.

Shaheen then limped off the field after the 14th over with a knee injury having pulled up gingerly when a blow from Jamie Overton thumped past him at mid-on.

It meant Shaheen, who finished with 0 for 26 from 3 overs, was not available for the final over of the power surge where he had been entrusted to bowl in previous games. Jerrssis Wadia, playing his second BBL game, turned the game on its head in the 15th over when he whacked 22 runs off his first four deliveries.

Strikers appeared to be cruising to the target until Short hit Bartlett to long-on, ending his fine 63 off 39 balls, as they lost 4 for 12. With Strikers needing 10 runs off the final over, Balkin calmly closed it out and dismissed Harry Nielsen on the penultimate ball to trigger scenes of jubilation.

Heat showcased their prowess of defending a total, having batted first in their first three games. After being sent in to bat, Jack Wildermuth stepped on the turf where he became a Heat hero following his astounding century against Scorchers. But Wildermuth lasted just four balls after holing out to Scott in the second over.

Left-arm quick Luke Wood, who started his season well with a three-wicket haul against Sixers, struggled to find the right length but did rattle the stumps of Colin Munro with the last ball of his opening two-over spell.

The pressure was on Renshaw, who entered in a rich vein of form highlighted by his brutal ton against Scorchers. While the spotlight shines on several of Australia's underperforming Test batters, Renshaw had an opportunity to make another statement and his confidence was underlined by swatting Wood down the ground.

Having whacked nine sixes against Scorchers, Renshaw nailed his first in the fifth over when he climbed into an innocuous short delivery from Hasan.

Short reverted to spin and it did the trick with legspinner Lloyd Pope dismissing Hugh Weibgen to halt Heat's push. Renshaw, however, loomed large as he effectively shuffled across his stumps to power through the legside.

But Short stepped up and his useful offspin tempted Renshaw into a miscue to extra cover as Heat soon found themselves in major trouble. Bryant started relatively slowly before launching consecutive sixes off Overton in the 14th over and the momentum carried over into the power surge overs, where Heat clubbed 30 runs.

Bryant powered to his half-century, dominating a 52-run stand with Jimmy Peirson, before being beaten for pace by a fierce short ball from Hasan.