Starc's four-for, Smith and Curran fifties put Sixers in BBL Qualifier against Scorchers
Brisbane Heat has been knocked out of the competition after losing their first game at home this BBL season
18/01Result
40th Match (N), Big Bash League at Brisbane, Jan 18 2026
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![Brisbane Heat]( "Brisbane Heat")
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![Sydney Sixers]( "Sydney Sixers")
177/5 (18.4/20 ov)
Player of the Match
18/01Result
40th Match (N), Big Bash League at Brisbane, Jan 18 2026
-
![Brisbane Heat]( "Brisbane Heat")
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![Sydney Sixers]( "Sydney Sixers")
177/5 (18.4/20 ov)
Player of the Match
Match Centre
Statistics
Best performances - Batsmen
SPD Smith
54(40) 5x4 - 0x6
Control %67%
- Productive Shot
- cover drive
- 14 runs
- 2x4 - 0x6
Match Details
Series
Toss
Sydney Sixers , elected to field first
Player Of The Match
Season
Match days
18 January 2026 - night match (20-over match)
Umpires
TV Umpires
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
Points
Sydney Sixers 2, Brisbane Heat 0
Scorecard Summary
BRISBANE HEAT 171/9 (20 OVERS)
- Michael Neser35 (14)
- Nathan McSweeney*69 (54)
- Mitchell Starc4/35 (4)
- Sam Curran2/37 (4)
SYDNEY SIXERS 177/5 (18.4 OVERS)
- Steven Smith54 (40)
- Sam Curran*53 (27)
- Jack Wildermuth1/17 (2)
- Xavier Bartlett2/32 (3.4)
Scorer: Chandan Duorah | Commentator: Alex Malcolm
The BBL finals are set. The two best franchises in BBL history face off again for a spot in the final on Tuesday with Scorchers hosting Sixers. Defending champions Hurricanes need to win three games to go back-to-back and Stars need to do likewise to claim their first title. Join us for the final series starting on Tuesday. Until then, thanks for your company tonight.
Sam Curran is player of the match: "It got a lot closer than I thought. Really pleased we get second spot so they get two cracks at it. Unfortunately I'm leaving in the morning to join up with England. So I'll be watching the boys from there. I was thinking imagine if I get on that flight and I lose this game for the team."
10.38pm Sixers win and claim second spot! They win by five wickets with eight balls to spare. Sixers get the double chance and head to Perth to play Scorchers on Tuesday. Heat are knocked out. They finish fifth. Hurricanes will host Stars in Hobart in the Knockout on Wednesday. A superb innings from Sam Curran guides them home. He made 53 not out from 27. But he won't play finals for Sixers as he heads to Sri Lanka to play for England. Smith is in great form though after another half-century. They nearly stuttered in the Surge but got it done easily in the end thanks to Curran's composure.
Sami: "Seems like the 6ers are gonna get this done but losing Curran fro the finals is gonna hurt from a batting perspective. Babar has to find form in the finals or its gonna be tough if Smith doesnt get going."
Sujatha : "Feel Usman Khawaja should have been tactically proactive once Zaman got Smudge! He should have bowled Zaman instead of Kuhnemann vs Sam Curran ! "
18.4
6
Bartlett to Edwards, SIX, over deep square to win it! Another short ball, Edwards swivels and sends it over the long boundary!
18.3
W
Bartlett to Shaw, OUT, top edge straight up! Another short ball, this one a little quicker and higher, he tries to go again and gets a top edge straight up and Peirson takes the catch
L Shaw c †Peirson b Bartlett 17 (15m 12b 1x4 1x6) SR: 141.66
One to win
18.2
6
Bartlett to Shaw, SIX, pounded over deep midwicket! Back of a length on off, he seizes the length and nails the pull over the rope!
Josh: "Has there ever been 3 huge inclusions like Smith, Starc and Sam Curran at the end of the tournament…. Almost seems unfair "
18.1
4
Bartlett to Shaw, FOUR, carved over backward point! Length ball wide of off, he clears the left leg and he scythes it over backward point
11 off 12. Bartlett to bowl his last
END OF OVER:18 | 17 Runs | SS: 161/4 (11 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 8.94, RRR: 5.50)
- Sam Curran53 (27b)
- Lachlan Shaw7 (9b)
- Matthew Kuhnemann4-0-39-0
- Michael Neser4-0-34-1
Arfaa: "Bad move to have Kuhnemann bowl, especially with Curran still there. You bowl Zaman and X, take it as deep as you can and see how it goes. Game's gone now"
17.6
2
Kuhnemann to Curran, 2 runs, short and wide, he cuts past cover for a couple more
17.5
6
Kuhnemann to Curran, SIX, slog sweep over deep midwicket! 51 off 26 for Curran! Tossed up wider of off, makes him reach for it and he still middles it over the rope. What an innings this is
Match Coverage
All Match NewsStarc's four-for, Smith and Curran fifties put Sixers in BBL Qualifier against Scorchers
Brisbane Heat has been knocked out of the competition after losing their first game at home this BBL season
BBL finals race goes down to the wire; hosting rights also on the line
Heat and Sixers will chase the final spot in the top four while the route for defending champions Hurricanes is out of their hands
