Hughes struck seven boundaries and four sixes during his knock of 85

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Daniel Hughes clubbed a superb 85 as the Sydney Sixers took down the Brisbane Heat in a nail-biting clash at the Gabba.

Being put in to bat first, the Heat got off to a brilliant start as wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson and captain Brendon McCullum amassed a 70-run partnership before McCullum was dismissed by Sean Abbott for 30.

Abbott struck again in his next over as he removed the dangerous Chris Lynn for just 13 runs, while Peirson ended up making 44 before he was trapped lbw off the bowling of 20-year-old debutant Henry Thornton.

Alex Ross also failed to have an impact, but Joe Burns and Ben Cutting steadied things with a 42-run stand before Cutting was caught and bowled by Abbott for 20.

Even though Jack Wildermuth fell shortly after, Burns went on to make an unbeaten 51, which came off 33 balls and included three boundaries and two sixes, to help the Heat finish on 186/6 off their 20 overs.

Burns made a gutsy 51 not out

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Abbott was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Johan Botha snapped up two and Thornton chipped in with one.

Chasing 187 to win, the Sixers lost opener Jason Roy early on as he was given out lbw off the bowling of Samuel Badree for just seven runs.

Hughes and Nic Maddinson stabilised the innings with a 45-run stand before Maddinson was caught and bowled by Cutting for 24.

Things went from bad to worse for the Sixers as captain Moises Henriques could only make 10 runs, while Sam Billings fell after scoring five.

Hughes and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin steered the innings back in the right direction with a 59-run partnership, during which Hughes brought up his half-century, before Haddin was dismissed by Wildermuth for 32.

Botha was on his way back to the pavilion not long after and the Sixers found themselves needing three runs to win off the final over.

Cutting took the prize wicket of Hughes on the first ball as he clean bowled the opener for 85, which came off 55 balls and included seven boundaries and four sixes.

Only one run was conceded off the next two balls, but Abbott won the game for the Sixers on the fourth ball of the over as he miscued a pull shot that went for six.

Cutting and Mitchell Swepson picked up two wickets apiece, while Wildermuth, Badree and Nick Buchanan claimed one wicket each.