Brisbane Heat kept its slim hopes of making the Big Bash League semifinals alive as Chris Lynn became the competition's all-time leading run scorer in a six-wicket victory over rock-bottom Perth Scorchers.
The Scorchers is enduring its worst BBL season in 2018-19 and it slipped to a ninth defeat as Lynn, who leapfrogged Michael Klinger in the list of batsmen with most runs, hit an unbeaten 56 to see the Heat home with 15 balls to spare.
It was a timely return to form for Lynn after he had failed to score more than 10 in his last four innings, the 28-year-old finishing the match in style with a fourth six.
Lynn's heroics came after the Heat's bowlers had restricted the Scorchers to 128-9 from their 20 overs, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Josh Lalor taking three wickets apiece – the latter claiming a rare BBL hat-trick.
Mujeeb made early inroads as Perth slumped to 17-3 in the fourth over, but crucial inputs from Cameron Bancroft (32) and Nick Hobson (43) gave the Scorchers a total to defend.
New opening partners Max Bryant and Ben Cutting made a steady start to Brisbane's reply before the latter was caught at short third-man off Usman Qadir.
That brought Lynn to the crease and he anchored their run chase superbly, keeping the scoreboard ticking over and sending anything loose to the boundary.
The Heat could even afford to lose Brendon McCullum for just three as Matt Renshaw and latterly Alex Ross offered Lynn support.
It fell to the Heat skipper to get his side home and a loose delivery from Tye was given the treatment as Brisbane ended a four-game winless streak.
KUHNEMANN EARNS LYNN PRAISE
Debutant Matthew Kuhnemann impressed with the ball for the Heat, the 22-year-old returning figures of 2-22 from his four overs.
Kuhnemann removed Josh Inglis at the end of his first over, before adding the wicket of Clint Hinchcliffe – Lynn taking a smart catch at short third-man to send him back.
"The guys were exceptional with the ball, especially Kuhnemann, on debut, bowling in the powerplay," said Lynn. "I wanted to make sure we didn't make the same mistake as we did a week ago in Melbourne."
HAT-TRICK? WAS IT?
Lalor took the fourth hat-trick in Big Bash history to help end the Scorchers' brief onslaught, although he needed team-mate Alex Ross to tell him!
The medium pacer removed Andrew Tye at the end of the 18th over before returning to dismiss Matthew Kelly and Hobson at the start of the final set of six.
However, there was no big celebration from the 31-year-old, with Ross – who was mic'd up for television – having to break the news to the seamer.
MORE PROBLEMS FOR PERTH
Over the previous seven editions of the Big Bash the Scorchers have been the most successful franchise, but the 2018-19 campaign has been one to forget.
They are three-time winners and two-time runners-up but this year they may have to settle for the wooden spoon after a fourth loss in a row.
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