Josh Brown makes never-before-seen BBL history as Brisbane Heat storm into final

Josh Brown’s mum (far left) was speechless as she watched his record-breaking innings in the BBL. Image: Channel 7/Getty

Josh Brown has blasted the Brisbane Heat into the BBL final with the biggest score in a finals game in the competition’s history. The Heat opener smashed 12 sixes and 10 fours in his masterful knock of 140 off just 57 balls.

It marks the highest score in a BBL finals game, and the most sixes in one innings in the competition’s history. He also notched the second-fastest century in the competition’s history (41 balls), falling just short of Craig Simmons’ record of 39 balls.

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His brutal innings led the Heat to a mammoth total of 214, before the Adelaide Strikers could only managed 160 in reply. “It still feels a bit surreal,” Brown said. “Still pinching myself now the adrenaline’s winding down, pretty crazy.”

Brown credited Heat captain Nathan McSweeney for the incredible, record-breaking knock. “He’s seen me at my best, seen me at my worst and told me to just watch and react,” he revealed.

“Usually I like facing pace, but sometimes don’t make my mind up correctly against spin. But when they came on I was just so clear tonight.”

Josh Brown celebrates after bringing up his century in the BBL. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Watching on from the crowd, Brown’s mother was in disbelief. Her mouth dropped open when she was told by Channel 7 presenter Erin Holland that Brown had hit the most sixes in a BBL innings ever.

“Really? Oh my goodness, that’s amazing! That’s amazing!” she said. “Wow. All those training sessions, and… I’m, I’m… speechless. Seriously, he’s just an amazing, amazing man. I’m just beyond stoked, he’s just the most amazing lad. So proud. So, so proud.”

The 30-year-old Brown is a bat-maker by trade who forced his way into a BBL contract last season through sheer weight of runs in club cricket. He was on pace to break Simmons’ 39-ball record, but eventually had to settle for a share of second with Glenn Maxwell.

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The previous fastest century by a Heat player was Chris Lynn’s 49-ball ton, while Brown’s knock was It was also the third-highest BBL score behind Maxwell (154 not out) and Marcus Stoinis (147 not out). He reached his 50 in 22 balls – the same amount he faced on Friday when he made a sluggish 15 that featured countless air swings in a loss to the Sixers.

“One of the better innings I’ve seen, but a bit frustrating to have one player get away like that,” Strikers captain Matt Short said. “Huge credit to him; we threw a fair few things at him and he kept hitting them out of the middle wherever he wanted. Just a freak innings.”

Chasing 215 to win on the Gold Coast, the Strikers were bowled out for 160 as McSweeney took 3-3 in the final over to seal a 54-run victory. A two-wicket over from strike weapon Spencer Johnson (3-20 off four overs) put the Heat in the box seat, picking up key pair Matt Short (19 off nine balls) and D’Arcy Short (seven off 13).

Brown first made a name for himself with 62 off 23 balls in just his second BBL game on January 1 last year. Brown said his bat sales went “berserk” after that innings. “So it will be interesting to see what happened tonight,” he said after Monday’s monster knock.

The Heat will now face the Sixers at the SCG in Wednesday night’s final. Needless to say, cricket fans and commentators were left in complete awe on Monday night.

with AAP

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