Sam Billings stars as Brisbane Heat end Adelaides Strikers' unbeaten run

Billings scored 79 runs off 48 balls to help Brisbane Heat to 166 for 9 before Michael Neser and Mark Steketee led a successful defence with the ball

Brisbane: Brisbane Heat 166-9, Adelaide Strikers 160-9 - Brisbane Heat won by six runs

Scorecard

Brisbane Heat ended Adelaide Strikers' unbeaten streak with a six-run win at the Gabba.

The Heat scored 166 from their 20-over allocation, with Sam Billings (79 off 48) doing the bulk of the damage. The Strikers mustered 160 in reply.

The home side didn't get off to the best start with the bat, losing Colin Munro and Matt Renshaw to Matt Short in the second over. 

However, Billings' arrival at the crease changed Brisbane's fortunes, as he single-handedly dragged his side beyond the 160-mark.

^{Mark Steketee picked up four wickets [Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images]}

His knock included six fours and four sixes while Max Bryant (46 off 29) was the only other Heat batter to pass 20.

Rashid Khan and Short were the most impressive bowlers for Adelaide Strikers, taking combined figures of 3 for 33 from seven overs.

In reply, Michael Neser (2 for 23) pinned Jake Weatherald lbw off the first ball of the innings. Mark Steketee (4 for 34) and Matthew Kuhnemann then joined in the fun, removing Short and Chris Lynn, respectively, to reduce the Strikers to 29 for 3 inside the powerplay. Had the latter reviewed his dismissal, however, it would have been overturned on height.

Colin de Granhomme and Thomas Kelly anchored the Strikers innings but fell for 37 and 43, respectively, after a promising partnership was broken by the ever-present Steketee.

Cameos from Harry Nielsen (24 off 17) and Wes Agar (15 off 9) were too little too late as the Heat managed to protect the 17 needed off the final over.