Johnson does it again as Heat win thriller – cricket.com.au

KFC BBL|12
On Friday night he conceded just five runs in the final over and today it was only nine as Spencer Johnson brilliantly closed out the game to secure another close win for the Heat
AAP
22 January 2023, 05:17 PM AEST
Brisbane's late season surge towards the KFC BBL|12 finals has continued with a thrilling four-run victory over Melbourne Stars at the Gabba.
Left-arm paceman Spencer Johnson bowled the last over of the match for the second time in as many games, and with the Stars needing 14, he contained Marcus Stoinis (36no) and Hilton Cartwright (33no) with nerves of steel.
It follows his final over that went for just five runs against the Hurricanes and Tim David on Friday night to secure victory.
The Heat's win was set up by an unbroken 133-run stand by wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson (57no off 43 balls) and English import Sam Hain (73no off 41) who lifted the home side to 4-188 batting first.
The last-placed Stars needed 44 with 14 deliveries to go before Cartwright and Stoinis were both caught off full tosses that were correctly ruled over the waist. 
The pair walloped sixes and fours to set up a final ball showdown, but Johnson unleashed a near-perfect yorker and kept Stoinis quiet.
The Heat, on 13 points, can now wrap up a top-five finals position with a win over Hobart Hurricanes in Launceston on Wednesday. 
The table is that tight the Heat could finish as high as third or still miss the finals, depending on results. 
Stars opener Tom Rogers smashed 41 off 20 balls to get the visitors moving quickly in pursuit of the total in an innings that included three huge sixes over the leg side.
Mitchell Swepson (2-23 off four) was the key with the ball for the Heat with his accurate leg-spinners pegging back the early momentum.
Earlier, Hain and Peirson came together at 4-55 in the seventh over and paced their liaison to perfection by taking 30 runs off the two power surge overs to up the ante.
Peirson, playing his 101st BBL game for Brisbane, was pugnacious square of the wicket while Hain unfurled a vast range of shots, including a reverse ramp for six.
It was a rescue mission that could yet prove decisive in ensuring the Heat play finals.
England international Luke Wood came out breathing fire and brimstone in a fearsome opening spell for the Stars.
He blasted out Josh Brown (four) and Marnus Labuschagne (one) in his opening two overs and almost had Matt Renshaw first ball.
Renshaw ran himself out for seven when he took on mid-off Adam Zampa and lost.
Nathan Coulter-Nile cleaned up Usman Khawaja (24) to have the hosts in trouble after captain Khawaja won the toss.
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