T20 Max Brings The Heat!

The third season of the KFC T20 Max continues to see nail-biting games and some jaw-dropping individual performances.

Last night's men's match between Valley and University of Queensland at Allan Border Field last night, saw a stand-out effort from Queensland Bulls and Valley allrounder Jack Wildermuth.

Wildermuth, who turns 31 next month, has emerged for the T20 Max in peak physical shape, thanks to a tough personal training routine in the off-season. 

His power was on display last as he produced his second half century in four matches so far in the competition.

Wearing their new-look pink playing strip, Valley were put into bat first, where they had a relatively quiet start losing Melbourne Renegades young gun Harry Dixon on a team score of 28.

Heat batter Max Bryant and Australian Under-19 skipper Hugh Weibgen steadied the ship for Valley, putting up a 57-run partnership before with the score at 2-85 in the ninth over, Wildermuth entered the arena. The stage was set for him to tee off and he did not disappoint the spectators. 

Wildermuth, who was 7 runs off his first 5 balls, cannoned three consecutive sixes in the eleventh over, scoring 43 runs in the next 10 balls faced. 

He ended up with a 15-ball half-century, at an extravagant strike-rate of 312.50. Wildermuth’s innings included 2 fours and 6 sixes where he displayed great game awareness by targeting the shorter side of the boundary. 

Later, with ball in hand, Wildermuth produced a spell of 25/1 in his four overs, the second most economical among Valley’s bowlers.

This proved to be pivotal as they restricted UQ Men's to a score of 8/152 and hence, capping a convincing 70-run victory.

Wildermuth continues to yield rewards on the back of his red-hot form this season. This was his second score of fifty in the last three innings of KFC T20 Max. 

In the inaugural game of the competition, he lit up the stage with a blistering 85 off just 38 balls including 8 sixes against Redlands, almost taking his team over the line single-handedly.

With his all-round abilities, Wildermuth has shown great promise to be a strong contender for a place in the Brisbane Heat squad once again, after being a member of last season's championships squad without playing a match.

Wildermuth’s potential to take down any opposition single-handedly makes him an X-Factor just like his former Heat teammate and batter Josh Brown, who used the T20 Max to build an irresistible case for a BBL contract two seasons ago, capturing the headlines for batting at strike-rates of over 250 and hitting sixes at will. 

The Heat have two local contracts and two International recruits from the BBL|14 Player Draft this Sunday to finalise their squad.

Brisbane Heat BBL|14 Squad (to date): Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Spencer Johnson, Usman Khawaja, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan McSweeney, Colin Munro (International), Michael Neser, Jimmy Pierson, Will Prestwidge, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson, Callum Vidler.

WBBL and BBL tickets for the Heat are on sale now through Ticketek and at https://www.brisbaneheat.com.au/tickets

Fans are encouraged to buy early and save, with early bird prices available until November 14 for BBL tickets and October 10 for WBBL tickets.

For the first time, the WBBL Heat will play a stand alone match at the Gabba, taking on the Adelaide Strikers on Saturday 9 November, as well as three matches under lights at Allan Border Field.

BBL matches in Brisbane will feature the return of the New Year’s Bash, when the Heat host the Melbourne Stars, one of five bumper home games at the Gabba.