'Rotten luck' thwarts batsman in 'freak' Big Bash moment
Sam Heazlett can consider himself the unluckiest batsman to be dismissed in this year's Big Bash.
The Brisbane Heat batsman's freak dismissal took a back seat to teammate Chris Lynn's match-defining 94 runs off 35 balls that guided the visitors to a 48-run win over the Sydney Sixers on Sunday night.
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Heazlett will take solace from his side's impressive win but it won't make watching replays of his wicket any easier to swallow.
The Brisbane opener was looking to get his side off to a solid start against the Sixers at the SCG when he was undone by Ben Manenti.
The Sixers allrounder looped one of his off-spinners outside the line, with Heazlett looking to slog it over the leg side for a boundary.
Misjudging the flight of the delivery, Heazlett caught nothing but thin air as the ball went through his legs and into Josh Phillippe.
The Sixers wicketkeeper knew absolutely nothing about it as the ball clattered into his gloves, before accidentally bouncing into the stumps.
Heazlett looked like he may have still been in his crease when the bails came flying off but replays illustrated just how unlucky he was.
At almost the exact moment the ball hit the stumps, Heazlett's back leg swivelled in front of the crease - leaving him dumfounded as he was given his marching orders.
Sam Heazlett is stumped (unintentionally) by Josh Philippe. Rotten luck!
A @KFCAustralia Bucket Moment | #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/K1UXS5lBWL— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 22, 2019
Heazlett out - The bizarrest stumping ever? #BBL09 @BBL
— ❓❓❓❕ 🤐 (@AneeqAhmadh) December 22, 2019
Heazlett has to go off a freak stumping. At least it wasn't Chris Lynn! It is 92/2 off 8 overs.
LIVE #SIXvHEA:
👉 https://t.co/QJ2nQ9yEwN 👈#BBL09 #BBL— 🏏FlashScore Cricket Commentators🏏 (@FlashCric) December 22, 2019
That is the best unintentional stumping ever from Philippe to dismiss Heazlett. Definitely rivals Zampa's run out off his face! #BBL09
— Anthony Morgan (@anthfieg1) December 22, 2019
What a stumping! Heazlett OUT after getting stuck in an awkward position 😲
📺 Stream #BBL09 ad-break free on Kayo: https://t.co/CfILOrTeyB
Live blog 📝: https://t.co/zjEkt0Z9wd pic.twitter.com/UoMqGHvRVF— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 22, 2019
When all was said and done it was Lynn’s batting masterclass that dominated the wash-up of Brisbane’s victory.
‘Lynnsanity’ dominates SCG clash
The Heat master blaster whacked 94 off just 35 balls before he was caught at the long-on boundary on Sunday night, in the Heat's equal-highest total in their history of 4-209.
In a brutal smash-up that included 11 sixes at the SCG, the right-hander was well on track to break Craig Simmons' 39-ball century as the quickest in BBL history.
Had his last shot cleared the rope, it also would have made for the equal-fifth fastest century in all Twenty20 matches worldwide.
Lynn had made it his goal to prove a point in this summer's Big Bash in a bid to regain his spot in Australia's Twenty20 squad for next year's World Cup.
He scored just nine and six in the first two games of the tournament, but Sunday's knock sent a reminder to selectors.
In the process he also became the first player to pass 2000 runs in the Big Bash, while his 135 sixes in the competition's history is almost double any other player.
"I had no idea (I was close to the record for fastest century)," Lynn said.
"I knew I hit a couple over the rope so I knew I was half a chance.
"There was a bit of hype going around and a bit of talk you haven't performed.
"But you've just got to put that to the side and play with that freedom and be fearless."
Matt Renshaw also hit 60 off 39 to go top of the run-scoring charts for the tournament, before Mitchell Swepson starred with 2-27 with the ball in Brisbane's first win over the season.
In reply, James Vince hit 39 and Moises Henriques put Ben Cutting onto the Members Pavilion roof as the Sixers finished 7-161.
With AAP