In a gripping low-scoring encounter at the International Sports Stadium in Coffs Harbour, Joel Davies emerged as the all-round hero, steering the Sydney Sixers to a thrilling three-wicket victory over the Brisbane Heat in the 24th match of BBL|15 on January 5, 2026. Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, the Sixers restricted the Heat to a meagre 114/9, setting up a tense chase that Davies anchored with an unbeaten 35. His figures of 2/19 complemented a sharp bowling display, earning him Player of the Match honours.
Sydney Sixers’ bowling stranglehold fold Brisbane heat for a low score
The Sixers came out firing with the ball and made immediate inroads during the powerplay, giving away only 33 runs while picking up two crucial wickets. Jack Wildermuth tried to counterattack with a brisk 31 from 17 balls, striking two boundaries and clearing the ropes twice, but his stay ended when Sean Abbott struck, leaving the Heat 33 for 2. Jack Edwards trapped Lachlan Hearne lbw for a single, and the pressure kept mounting as Ben Dwarshuis and Abbott struck again. Nathan McSweeney departed for 11, Matt Renshaw managed only 2, and by the drinks break in the 10th over the Heat were reeling at 58 for 5.
Joel Davies then ripped through the tail, first removing Xavier Bartlett and then bowling Matthew Kuhnemann in quick time to make it 74 for 8. Hugh Weibgen showed some fight with a determined 24 before a run-out ended his resistance at 91 for 9. Hayden Kerr’s miserly spell of 1 for 12 and a disciplined all-round effort restricted the Heat to a sluggish 114 for 9, with Oli Patterson and Thomas Balkin unbeaten, in what turned out to be the lowest total of the tournament on a testing Coffs Harbour surface.
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Joel Davies’ resilient rescue act takes Sixers home against Heat in BBL|15
In pursuit of 115, the Sixers stumbled early as wickets fell in the powerplay. Babar Azam made two, Josh Philippe departed for a duck, and Daniel Hughes scored 15, reducing them to 32 for three inside six overs. The situation worsened when Moises Henriques holed out for 26, and drinks arrived with a tense 53/6.
Rescue came through Davies at number seven. Calm and assured, he rebuilt with Hayden Kerr, the pair adding an unbeaten 62 for the eighth wicket from 46 balls. Davies struck three fours and a six in a brisk 26-ball knock, while Kerr’s 27 not out held firm. Matthew Kuhnemann threatened, but the pair crossed 100 in the 17th over and finished with eight balls to spare comfortably.
Hayden Kerr and Joel Davies lead an incredible recovery for the Sydney Sixers to take them over the line 🙌#SydneySixers #BBL2025 pic.twitter.com/WT3aJaZiiT
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) January 5, 2026
