Hobart: Pakistan international fast bowler Zaman Khan showed nerves of steel to successfully defend the final over of six runs for Brisbane Heat against home team Hobart Hurricanes in the thrilling 35th match of Big Bash League (PBL) 2025-26 at Bellerive Oval here on Wednesday.
Chasing a target of 161, the Hurricanes needed six off the final over, with middle-order batsman Nikhil Chaudhary and captain Nathan Ellis remaining unbeaten on 16 and 1 respectively.
Entrusted to bowl the final over from captain Usman Khawaja, Zaman launched a low full toss to Ellis.
He then bowled a full and wide delivery which Ellis singled towards deep third-man. Zaman bowled two consecutive dot balls which put the Hurricanes batsmen under severe pressure.
As a result, Chaudhary buckled under the pressure and bowled a slow delivery outside the off-stump straight to Michael Nasser, who was stationed at long-on.
With five needed off the final delivery, Zaman Khan continued his discipline and bowled a full and wide delivery, only for newcomer batsman Rishad Hossain to score a run towards deep point.
Zaman’s sensational final over helped him finish with economical bowling figures of 1/29. Xavier Bartlett, however, led the way with three scalps, followed by Matthew Kuhneman with two, while Marnus Labuschagne and Nesser took one each.
Ben McDermott continued to top the Hurricanes with 59 off 36 balls, while Beau Webster scored 51 off 43 balls.
The duo shared a 98-run partnership for the third wicket that kept the Heat in check until both perished in subsequent overs, sparking a match-defining collapse.
Batting first, Heat scored 160/8 in the allotted 20 overs with their combined effort.
Nathan McSweeney top scored with 49 off 32 balls with 7 boundaries while Matt Renshaw also scored 37 off 25 balls.
Among the bowlers for the Hurricanes, Riley Meredith took 3 for 40 from his four overs, followed by Ellis and Rishad with 2 each, while Webster managed to get one.
The thrilling win lifted Brisbane Heat to fourth in the PBL 2025-26 standings with 10 points from nine matches, while the Hobart Hurricanes remained at the top with 13 points from a game to play.
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