The Renegades' Tom Cooper is bowled by the Brisbane Heat's Ben Cutting in last night's Big Bash League semi-final at Etihad Stadium. Picture: GETTY IMAGES
Comeback kid Luke Pomersbach's unbeaten 112 helped steer Brisbane Heat to a 15-run upset victory over the Melbourne Renegades in last night's Big Bash League knockout semi-final at Etihad Stadium.
The Heat compiled a formidable total of 3-183 before paceman Ben Cutting claimed 3-24 as the Renegades scored 9-168 in reply.
The Renegades drew a crowd of more than 16,000 but, despite finishing on top of the table with a 7-1 win- loss record, they were unable to overcome the fourth- placed Heat.
Captain Aaron Finch admitted Pomersbach's performance had left his bowlers feeling rattled.
Punishing left-hander Pomersbach, who was handed a lifeline at Brisbane by coach Darren Lehmann after a series of alcohol- related incidents in Western Australia, crunched 15 fours and two sixes in his 70-ball knock.
The Heat will not only advance to Saturday's BBL final against Perth Scorchers or Melbourne Stars but they've also qualified for the lucrative T20 Champions League in India in October.
The Renegades began their run-chase well as Finch and Alex Hales smashed 34 from the first three overs. But Cutting claimed 1-1 from the fourth over to apply the brakes, bowling Hales for 20.
Spinner Nathan Hauritz took his first wicket of the tournament when Alex Doolan fell for 13 at 2-63 and the key breakthrough came two deliveries later when the Renegades' leading run- scorer Finch (23) holed out to deep cover to spinner Chris Lynn (2-15).
Cutting also bowled Tom Cooper (14) while the home side's other main batting hope Ben Rohrer fell to Lynn's bowling at 5-131 after smashing 42 off 22 balls.
Pomersbach's century was only the second by any player this season in the BBL and he's the leading run-scorer with 360 runs.