Brisbane Heat book spot in Big Bash final after defeating Sydney Sixers

Michael Neser picked up 2 for 28 as Sydney Sixers were restricted to 116 for 9 before scoring 48 not out off 32 balls to see his side to victory with 10 balls to spare

Sydney: Sydney Sixers 116-9, Brisbane Heat 117-6 – Brisbane Heat won by four wickets

Scorecard

Brisbane Heat will take on Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash final after defeating Sydney Sixers by four wickets.

The Heat were unfazed by losing four players (Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Swepson, and Matt Renshaw) to international commitments, with Michael Neser stepping up with a match-winning performance.

He returned figures of 2 for 28 as the Sixers were restricted to 116 for 9 before striking 48 not out off 32 balls to see his side to victory with 10 balls to spare.

Batting first the Sixers lost Kurtis Patterson to the bowling of Spencer Johnson inside the powerplay and also lost Josh Philippe and Moises Henriques, both removed by Matthew Kuhnemann, before the halfway mark.

^{Michael Neser stepped up with bat and ball [Matt King/Getty Images]}

^{Spencer Johnson picked up three wickets [Matt King/Getty Images]}

However, it was Nathan McSweeney who made the crucial intervention, striking in the 12th over to remove Jordan Silk for 10. From that point, the Sixers collapsed from 70 for 3 to 110 for 9, including losing four wickets in four overs at the death.

Daniel Hughes top-scored for the Sixers with 23 (24) while Patterson (19 off 14) was the only member of the top eight to record a strike rate above a run-a-ball. There were three wickets apiece for Johnson (3 for 28) and Kuhnemann (3 for 17).

In reply, the Heat made hard work of their chase, losing regular wickets to slip to 56 for 5 in the 11th over.

Neser, however, steadied the ship with a 30-run sixth-wicket stand with Max Bryant before turning it up a notch to secure his side's spot in Saturday’s final with time to spare. He shared an unbeaten 31-run partnership with James Bazley off 22 balls.

Sean Abbott was the pick of the bowlers, taking 1 for 13 from his four overs, while Ben Dwarshuis, Izharulhaq Naveed and Steve O'Keefe were also among the wickets.

Brisbane Heat will attempt to win their first title since 2012/13 at the Optus Stadium on February 4 while Perth Scorchers are on the hunt for a record-extending fifth crown.