Opener Luke Pomersbach has blasted an unbeaten 112 as Brisbane Heat set Melbourne Renegades the tough total of 184 to win their BBL knockout semi-final at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.
Pomersbach became the leading runscorer in the tournament with 360 runs at an average of 45 after spearheading his side’s total of 3-183.
The punishing left-hander’s 65-ball hundred was only the second century in the BBL this season, alongside Renegades’ captain Aaron Finch’s 111 not out against Melbourne Stars in December.
Sri Lanka’s spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan conceded 1-35, his most expensive effort this summer, while medium-pacer Will Sheridan’s 0-41 included a 20-run final over of the innings.
The Heat won the toss in sunny conditions and chose to bat.
However they had to make a late adjustment when to their team when skipper James Hopes suffered a hamstring strain during the warm-up.
Darren Pattinson made the first breakthrough for the Renegades when Peter Forrest was caught at mid-on for three in the third over.
But the Heat put the home side’s bowlers under enormous pressure as Pomersbach and Joe Burns (33) cut loose. They added 80 off 62 balls before Burns holed out to long-on from the bowling of part-time spinner Finch at 2-97.
Murali dismissed Dan Christian caught on the leg-side boundary for 11 in the 17th over but Pomersbach launched a six over long-on next ball to move to 95.
Pomersbach pushed a drive through mid-off for two to reach his century in the 19th over.
Chris Lynn (20 not out) and Pomersbach shared a 45-run stand for the fourth wicket and Pomersbach finished with 15 fours and two sixes in his 70-ball knock which the Renegades could find hard to match.