Brisbane Heat secured a nail-biting seven-run win against Adelaide Strikers in the 13th match of Big Bash League (BBL|15) at The Gabba on December 27, 2025. Heat posted 179/9 in their 20 overs before Bartlett’s stellar bowling restricted Strikers to 172 in 19.5 overs. The match showcased high-octane T20 action, with Heat climbing to third on the points table.
Max Bryant’s explosive batting sets target against Adelaide Strikers
Heat’s innings kicked off shakily in the powerplay, losing Jack Wildermuth (1) and Colin Munro (14) early to slump to 35/2 after four overs, but Matt Renshaw‘s aggressive 33 off 21 balls, including two fours and two sixes, steadied the ship.
Renshaw fell at 74/4 in the ninth over, yet Max Bryant unleashed a blistering 63 off 38 balls—featuring four fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 165.79—to propel Heat past 100 by the 13th over. His fifty came off 29 balls, anchoring a crucial 52-run stand with Jimmy Peirson (13), pushing the score to 150/6 by the 16th over despite Hasan Ali‘s twin strikes of Bryant and Xavier Bartlett (15).
Bryant’s brilliant innings laid the foundation for Brisbane Heat, even though his dismissal sparked late drama at the Gabba. Once Bryant fell for a superb 150, the Heat innings briefly lost momentum as Shaheen Shah Afridi was dismissed cheaply and Jimmy Peirson was run out in quick succession. However, Matthew Kuhnemann and Thomas Balkin held their nerve at the end to push the total to a competitive 179 for 9, scored at an impressive run rate of nearly nine an over. Adelaide Strikers’ bowlers kept things tight during the middle overs, with Luke Wood and Hasan Ali picking up two wickets each, while Matthew Short’s economical spell applied pressure. Despite the late stutter, Bryant’s commanding knock on a bouncy surface ensured the Heat had enough runs to defend under lights.
Xavier Bartlett’s bowling seals dramatic win for Brisbane Heat
In reply, the Strikers got off to a flying start, racing to fifty without loss in the powerplay as Short attacked aggressively and combined with Chris Lynn for a brisk opening stand. The momentum shifted in the eighth over when Bartlett struck twice, removing Lynn with a sharp caught-and-bowled effort and dismissing Mackenzie Harvey for a duck, halting the chase. Short continued to dominate, bringing up a rapid half-century and keeping the Strikers in the hunt as they crossed 150 with five wickets down.
However, Bartlett returned at a crucial moment to dismiss Short, triggering another collapse. The lower order struggled under pressure as wickets fell regularly, and despite a late push, the Strikers fell short, finishing on 172. Bartlett’s outstanding spell, supported by key contributions from Jack Wildermuth and Thomas Balkin, sealed a tense victory for Brisbane Heat, earning Bartlett the Player of the Match award for his all-round impact.
What a thriller 🔥
– Brisbane Heat hold their nerve to defend 179 👏#BBL2025 #BrisbaneHeat pic.twitter.com/cqNpIQ15sx
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) December 27, 2025
