Bash or crash – Heat won’t die wondering
TRAVIS MEYN
If the Stars win, a comfortable victory should be enough for Brisbane to snatch fourth spot and a finals berth.
Cutting said the Heat were not about to die wondering in front of a sold-out crowd.
“We’ve talked about it and all we need to do is win and win well,” he said.
“That’s what we try to do in every game anyway so nothing really changes for us. One thing we do here is try to entertain with plenty of fours and sixes, even more so if we need to win in 14 or 15 overs.
“We know what we need to do. We’ll stick to our guns. We’ll have to play the same way. We play aggressive and always go hard anyway.”
The Heat started the tournament in solid form but have lost their past three matches, including a nine-wicket defeat to the Sydney Sixers where they were bowled out for a club record low 73.
Lynn, player of the tournament in the past two summers, will provide some firepower at the top of the order while Renshaw could be an X-factor.
The 21-year-old lost his spot at the top of the Australian Test order for the Ashes following a lean start to the Sheffield Shield season, but he has been tipped to shine in the Twenty20 arena.
“He has paved his way in red ball cricket the last couple of years and that’s where everyone knows him from,’’ Cutting said. ‘‘But I’ve certainly seen him play some innings where he’s hit some big balls just as far as Lynny can.
“He is very much a surprise packet in this form, not just with the bat but with his fielding and with the ball as well.”
The Heat’s Women’s Big Bash League team are also facing a weekend of must-win matches. They will face the Sydney Thunder at the Gabba today before hosting the competition leaders at Allan Border Field tomorrow.
“We’ve just got to win two games,” wicketkeeper Beth Mooney said. “We’ve been in this situation before.
‘‘We came into the last two games against the Strikers last year having to win both and we managed to do that.
“We’ve been a little inconsistent and probably haven’t performed to our standards and best of our ability.
“The Thunder are a very strong and balanced side.
‘‘It will be a really tough assignment for us.”