Chris Lynn rode his luck and Joe Burns provided a cool head to steer a nervous Brisbane Heat to a five-wicket win over the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Lynn, the competition's all-time leading run-scorer, was dropped twice and received another lifeline when he was caught before Jack Prestwidge was called for a back-foot no-ball.
While he didn't fully cash-in, Lynn (50) combined with Joe Denly (31) to put Brisbane in a strong position in front of empty stands in Canberra before the former's wicket sparked a mini-collapse.
The Heat lost 4-12 inside three overs, but axed Test opener Burns hit 31 not out off 15 balls to guide them safely to 5-150, hauling in the victory target with eight balls to spare.
"I just try to be clear with what my options are and commit to them," Burns told the Seven Network.
"Fortunately I got a few boundaries away and it eases the pressure.
"It's a little bit different having no fans in the crowd but it's nice for our team to get the win."
The result moved the fifth-placed Heat level on points with Perth - third with a game in hand - and Adelaide, who occupy fourth spot on net run rate.
The Renegades remain rooted to the foot of the table after their high-profile batsmen failed to fire in a total of 6-149.
Shaun Marsh returned after missing the previous two matches for the birth of his third child, but lasted just one ball when he was trapped lbw by Xavier Bartlett in the first over.
Aaron Finch fell in similar fashion to Jack Wildermuth for just 13, marking the seventh time in nine innings this season the Renegades and Australia T20 captain has failed to score more than 20.
His growing frustration was clear as he trudged away from the wicket, and again in his post-match assessment of a "sloppy" team performance.
"We keep dropping good players, giving them opportunities, and they're going to make you pay," Finch told the Seven Network.
"It's disappointing (that there are) things in our control that we're not taking care of.
"At times in T20 cricket things can go against you, but you've still got to do the basics well and we're just not doing that with bat or ball."
Bartlett (1-2) was replaced by Morne Morkel as the Heat's X-factor and the South Africa pace legend took 1-29 from four overs in his comeback after ankle surgery.
Jake Fraser-McGurk (40) and Beau Webster (50 not out) helped steady the Renegades with a 58-run partnership through the middle overs, but it wasn't enough.
The Heat lost Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman to international duty this week but left-armer Matthew Kuhnemann (1-15) filled in superbly with four tight overs.
Mark Steketee (2-24) continued his strong form, joining Perth's Jhye Richardson at the top of the BBL wicket-takers list with 18 for the season.
Australian Associated Press
