Club mates turn into rivals

Lynn takes on his Toombul skipper in key clash

CRICKET: Heat captain Chris Lynn is faced with the novel challenge of trying to take down his club captain as Brisbane attempt to nail a Big Bash finals place in Melbourne today.

The Heat need to beat the Renegades to finish in the top five for the finals after the Sydney Thunder squeezed them down to sixth spot by defeating the Perth Scorchers yesterday.

The Heat-Renegades contest is the final home and away fixture of the Big Bash season, so Brisbane’s fate is in their own hands with a win likely to secure them fourth place and a Gabba final on Thursday night.

Part of the Heat’s mission will be conquering the crafty leg spin of Queensland’s Cameron Boyce who took 4-15 when the sides met recently at the Gabba.

Boyce, squeezed out of the Queensland Sheffield Shield team by Mitch Swepson, captains Lynn and Matt Renshaw at Brisbane club Toombul so familiarity will not be an issue.

“He’s bowling pretty well at the moment after doing a nice job as skipper for Toombul in the lead up to the BBL,’’ Lynn said yesterday.

‘’He’s a good advertisement for the players who aren’t part of the state squads who play Premier Cricket or in other overseas Leagues to maintain and improve their skills.’

“Ben Laughlin and Josh Lalor likewise (for the Heat) – they have to find different ways to get themselves ready for the BBL but they are successful with that preparation.

“The spinners are having an impact on the competition again and I thought Mitch Swepson and Mujeeb did a great job too for us last night.

‘It’s another big game but we have taken some good lessons out of the last game against them and I think we match up pretty well.’’

The Thunder were set a revised target of 96 in 12 overs to beat Perth Scorchers. They made 3-97 from 11.4 overs with Alex Hales top scoring with 47 and Chris Morris smashing 10 runs off the final over.