WBBL04: Heat through to grand final after Haidee Birkett's stunning catch

Brisbane Heat women

Brisbane Heat have dramatically beaten Sydney Thunder to advance to their first Women's Big Bash League grand final after an incredible catch from Haidee Birkett on the last delivery of the match.

With five runs needed to win and four to force a super over at Drummoyne Oval, Sydney's Nicola Carey creamed a slog-sweep from the spin of Jess Jonassen and looked to have clinched the game for her team with a six over mid-wicket.

Enter Birkett.

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The bowler reeled in a classic grab while sprinting full-pelt in the deep, showing incredible skill to not only hold onto the speeding ball but remain inside the boundary rope.

Watch the brilliant piece of fielding below.

Birkett explained what was running through her mind at the time.

“The batter shaped up to hit it to me, so you see that and start moving,” Birkett said after play.

“She got every piece and it was six runs so I thought. I actually thought it was going for six.

“And in cricket we do ‘fake it ‘til you make it’ so you run hard to make it look like you’re going to go for the ball.

“But then I realised I was actually there and stuck my hands up and it stuck.”

Fox Cricket commentator and former Australian player Mel Jones detailed why Birkett's catch was so impressive.

“The first thing I noticed here is the height of the ball. She didn’t know whether to go fingers up or with the palm facing away from the ball, the palm facing towards her – that was the first decision,” Jones said.

“I guess her other decision was am I just trying to parry the ball in? Or can I get to a position to take the catch?

"First of all protect the six and then protect the boundary and then, in the end, the heart rate is aflutter."

The Heat were sent in to bat and scored 7/140, Sammy-Jo Johnson leading the charge with 33.

The Thunder enjoyed a scorching start in reply thanks to opener Rachel Priest's 44 off 33 balls but Brisbane were able to fight back and slow the run-rate.

Sydney arrived at the final over needing 13 to go through to the decider and seemed likely to do so until Birkett intervened.

Johnson received the player-of-the-match award for her batting performance and bowling figures of 1/12.

Heat off-spinner Jemma Barsby impressed with 3/23 from two overs.

Birkett, meanwhile, had the miserly figures of 0/20 from four overs with her seamers.

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