Strikers vs Heat, 13th Match at Brisbane, BBL, Dec 23 2020 - Match Result

All that excitement from Peirson and Mujeeb wagging the tail made everyone temporarily forget about the umpiring debacles earlier in the chase, and match in general. Plenty for you fans to chew on over the next two off days in this tournament. Hopefully Santa brings everyone some cheer after what's been a rough year. Come back on Boxing Day when the BBL returns for a doubleheader beginning with the Sydney Thunder against the Melbourne Renegades. Until then, take care!

Man of the Match Jimmy Peirson in a losing effort: "I've been in one of those situations before a few years ago where I took the single [in the final over] and regretted it. I felt like it was up to me to get the job done. [The top order] didn't get going tonight. Credit to the Strikers bowling. It was a good wicket. It was a great honor to have the captaincy tonight but hopefully we get Lynny back as soon as possible."

9.37 pm From 8 for 68, Peirson was spurred out of his shell by Mujeeb and nearly got the Heat across the line. He turned down three singles in the final over. But arguably the miscalculation came at the end of the 18th by taking the second run instead of settling for a single to keep strike for the 19th. He never saw a ball in the 19th over and Ben Laughlin was only able to manage one boundary sandwiched around five dots, keeping Peirson off strike until the 20th. After six off the first two balls, Worrall recovered to get his lengths perfect with four consecutive yorkers to deny Peirson what would have been a remarkable win for the Heat. However, Strikers may not have come away with this game feeling like big winners if Rashid's hamstring problem keeps him out for any length of time.

iNDER: "Pierson takes the single when he shouldn't/ And denies, when he should. More chance of Laughlin hitting one ball over boundary rather than 3 in a over."

7 from 4 has become 7 off 2.

Four boundary riders on the leg side.

Again, the decision to take the second run at the end of the 18th to put Laughlin on strike was debatable at the time and looks iffy now. He got a boundary second ball, but also chewed up 5 dots. It leaves 13 for Peirson to get off the final over with the masterful Worrall taking the ball for the 20th.

Peirson is showing a lot of faith in Laughlin by not turning down any runs so far. 17 off 12 now with Laughlin on strike.

Rashid has pulled his right hamstring in the field trying to deny the second run on that last ball. Could be a crushing injury for the Strikers season depending on the severity of the injury. He's limping off now.

Mujeeb sparked the turnaround for the Heat with his approach against Rashid, but now it's up to No. 11 Laughlin to stick around and give Peirson a chance to get the Heat across the line.

Four overs ago, the chat was about the Heat trying to mitigate a destructive net run rate hit in on the way to a seemingly lopsided defeat. My how the Power Surge has changed things. What began with a giggle from Mujeeb against Rashid has flipped this chase upside down as Peirson has followed Mujeeb's initiative and then taken the lead to steer the Heat into position for an unlikely comeback.