Swepson stars as Heat go top of BBL ladder
Mitchell Swepson continued a whirlwind week with a Player of the Match performance against the Melbourne Stars.
Test hopeful Mitchell Swepson spun the Brisbane Heat to a seven-wicket win over the Melbourne Stars and into the Big Bash League finals.
Swepson’s 2-14 helped restrict the Stars to 7-138 before the Heat chased down the target with 11 balls to spare at the MCG on Tuesday night, pinching top spot on the ladder.
Swepson, the 23-year-old leg-spinner who was unexpectedly included in Australia’s 16-man squad for next month’s tour of india, was named Player of the Match.
“It’s been a whirlwind (period),” he said. “It’s been a massive couple of days. It’s been awesome.
“It was about changing your pace and not being predictable bowling on that wicket.”
The Heat were guided to victory by middle-order batsmen Joe Burns and Alex Ross. After a slow start to his innings, Burns smacked three sixes on his way to an unbeaten 42, while Ross top-scored with 46 not out.
“It was a tough wicket to bat on. I thought the boys did well to run that down,” Swepson said.
Watch Swepson’s two wickets below:
Swepson on a hattie! #BBL06 pic.twitter.com/lNKeKJZl7P
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 17, 2017
Got him! Swepson gets the debutant Gotch & @starsbbl are 3-56 in the 9th #BBL06 pic.twitter.com/GSkhmZlxU4
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 17, 2017
The Heat is now well-placed to secure a home semi-final with a game remaining.
The Stars got off to an awful start. Heat paceman Mark Steketee bowled Rob Quiney with the first ball of the innings and trapped Kevin Pietersen LBW for a golden duck with the next.
Stars debutant Seb Gotch survived the hat-trick ball and made a handy 30, helped by some dreadful Heat fielding.
His knock came to an end when Swepson bowled him with a lovely wrong ‘un before also bowling allrounder Marcus Stoinis with the next ball.
The leg-spinner’s impressive performance earned lofty praise from sidelined Heat captain Brendon McCullum, who was slapped with a one-game suspension for his team’s slow over rate during their loss to the Perth Scorchers.
“He’s shown tonight he’s been able to take that selection, go there and still perform,” McCullum said.
Swepson's #BBL06 keeps getting better, picks 2 wickets in 2 balls in his 2nd over
11 wickets thus far in the season
Melbourne Stars 57/4 pic.twitter.com/sMeqDcNMxa
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) January 17, 2017
“We are delighted for him. He’s a huge player for us. Probably our most important bowler at this point in time as well.”
Opener Luke Wright (60 not out) was the standout batsman for the Stars, surviving the 20 overs and reaching his half-century with a six.