'Innings of a lifetime': Big Bash goes berserk as Heat star hits ...

The Brisbane Heat have booked their spot in the Big Bash League final for the second straight year courtesy of a record-breaking century from opener Josh Brown and a career-best bowling performance from Spencer Johnson during Monday evening’s Challenger against the Adelaide Strikers on the Gold Coast.

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Brown smacked 12 sixes and ten boundaries during his explosive 140 (57), the third-highest score in BBL history, as the Heat cruised towards a 54-run victory over the Strikers at Carrara Stadium.

The powerful Queenslander reached triple figures in just 41 deliveries, narrowly missing Craig Simmons’ record for the fastest Big Bash hundred, as the Heat posted 7-214 after winning the toss and electing to bat first.

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MATCH CENTRE: Heat vs Strikers, scores, stats, video

“That’s probably the best innings I’ve seen in my life,” Johnson told Fox Cricket after the match.

Heat teammate Matthew Renshaw continued: “It felt like anything he hit tonight was going for six.

“Hopefully Wednesday night he can fire again.”

Johnson ripped through the Strikers’ top order early in the run chase, claiming 3-20 during a superb four-over spell as the tourists were bowled out for 160 in 19.5 overs.

The Heat, who finished as finalists last summer, will face the Sydney Sixers in Wednesday evening’s final at the SCG.

After the early departure of Heat debutant Charlie Wakim, who was trapped on the pads by Strikers seamer David Payne for 7, Brown combined with captain Nathan McSweeney for a 119-run partnership for the second wicket.

Strikers leg-spinner Lloyd Pope put down a tough return chance in the seventh over, handing McSweeney an early reprieve on 16 — to rub salt into the woun

ds, the Wiggles’ iconic anthem ‘Hot Potato’ started blaring from the venue’s speakers.

However, McSweeney fell victim to paceman Henry Thornton after the drinks break, beaten on the inside edge and dismissed LBW for 33. The Heat skipper called for a review after umpire Sam Nogajski raised the dreaded finger, but Hawkeye suggested the ball was clipping the top of leg stump.

Brown was 11 runs shy of his century when he top-edged a delivery from seamer James Bazley in the 13th over, but the Kookaburra somehow landed between a trio of converging fielders.

The right-hander continued feasting on the hapless Strikers spinners, bringing up his maiden Big Bash hundred in the 14th over with a thumping six over long-off. He removed his helmet and saluted the Gold Coast crowd, which included his mother, who had taken annual leave to watch the match.

Former Australian batter Mark Waugh described it as the “innings of a lifetime”, while rival captain Matt Short called it “an incredible display of hitting”.

“We were all just watching in awe really,” Heat teammate Paul Walter told Fox Cricket.

“Everyone else seemed to struggled out there for us … it was amazing hitting, especially in a pressure situation like that.”

Brown’s demolition came to an end in the 17th over when Strikers wicketkeeper Harry Nielsen settled underneath a high chance, giving Payne his second wicket of the evening. The dismissal sparked a late collapse of 5-15 in 16 balls, with the Heat failing to find the boundary rope in the final three overs.

The Strikers’ run chase got off to a horror start with Johnson knocking over Strikers captain Short, the leading run-scorer of the tournament, and fellow opener D’Arcy Short during the Powerplay.

Johnson returned to the attack before the drinks break to remove Jake Weatherald for 8, giving his former South Australian teammate a cheeky send-off as he trudged back towards the sheds.

“Spencer’s been awesome all year,” McSweeney told Fox Cricket.

“He’s bowling the hard overs. His length and his pace was incredible.”

Strikers young gun Thomas Kelly cracked two sixes in a promising counter-attack before England international Walter intervened during the Power Surge, caught at mid-on for 41 (24).

Despite some late fireworks from Nielsen, who clobbered seven boundaries in a career-best 50 (33), the Strikers never looked like reeling in the 215-run target as the Adelaide-based club’s season ended with a whimper.

McSweeney wrapped up the innings with three wickets in the last over, finishing with career-best figures of 3-3 from five balls.

The BBL final between the Sixers and Heat gets underway on Wednesday at 7.15pm AEDT.

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