The Brisbane Heat's WBBL finals hopes have received a much-need jolt with a six-wicket win over the Sydney Thunder at the Gabba.
Chasing 146 for victory against the ladder leaders, the Heat on Saturday timed their chase well, reeling the target in with two overs remaining to snap a three-match losing streak.
Player-of-the-match Grace Harris (57) and Delissa Kimmince (45) combined for an 83-run third-wicket partnership in nine overs, batting at a perfect tempo after Beth Mooney (27 off 16 balls) had helped Brisbane to get off to a flier.
Sam Bates (2-23) was the best of the bowlers for the Thunder who struggled largely to contain the Brisbane pair who made the visitors' 5-145 look decidedly under-par.
The Thunder lost wicketkeeper Rachel Priest early but recovered through Rachael Haynes (43) and Alex Blackwell (41).
Haynes looked particularly good and hit two sixes in her aggressive knock, but the Ashes-winning Australian skipper's soft dismissal in the eighth over cost the Thunder valuable momentum.
To play finals, the fifth-placed Heat must win Sunday's rematch with the Thunder at Allan Border Field.
Brisbane will also hope the Renegades (sixth) down the Perth Scorchers (fourth) in Melbourne in what looms as a dramatic last day of competition.
The Heat can still qualify if the Renegades lose but they will need to beat the Thunder by a hefty margin to surpass the Scorchers' net run rate which is fractionally superior to Brisbane's (0.179 to 0.169).
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