With a penchant for close finishes and botched run chases, the Brisbane Heat could throw up plenty of drama in Friday night's Eliminator Final against the Adelaide Strikers
Lynn seeks calm from 'heart attack' Heat
Chris Lynn wants to shed Brisbane's reputation for "heart attack cricket" as they embark on an unlikely KFC BBL finals charge.
Close losses and needlessly tight wins amid spectacular batting collapses have been commonplace for the Heat in recent seasons with the club surviving their latest encounter when Perth's Mitch Marsh was unable to hit a six off the final ball to boot them out of finals contention.
Brisbane still need another four consecutive wins to add a second BBL title to their cabinet though, starting at the Gabba on Friday against the Adelaide Strikers.
Lynn can only smile when reflecting on his side's penchant for a nervous finish, particularly with coach Darren Lehmann recovering from a triple bypass after suffering from a heart attack early last year.
"They're character building games ... we've had a couple now and even after the Perth win every person I've spoken to said we gave them a heart attack," Lynn said.
"That's close to home for some, with Darren Lehmann, so we'd like a nice polished performance but if we have to win like that, then we win like that."
Lynn has proved a steady hand this season, scoring a Heat-best 420 runs while striking at 157.30 during the campaign with a personal-best five half centuries.
It was a performance that earned him selection in the cricket.com.au reporters' BBL best XI but the Heat captain was overlooked by the league's official team of the tournament voted for by coaches.
He said his mindset has improved thanks to the middle order contributions of Marnus Labuschagne, Joe Burns, Joe Denly, Jimmy Peirson and Lewis Gregory.
"That's helped a lot having confidence in the guys right down to seven to rotate the strike and hit boundaries," he said.
The arrival of Marnus Labuschagne has coincided with a lift in the Brisbane Heat's #BBL10 fortunes. Could he be the key in Friday's Eliminator final against the Strikers? And this is before we even talk about his bowling! 🤤 pic.twitter.com/jfRFqrFTu3— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 28, 2021
"We've improved on last year and been able to scratch and claw to a defendable total, rather than be one or two down and have a train wreck collapse."
Lynn is itching to kick on for a big score that has been lacking, aware it may have cost him a spot in Australia's Twenty20 squad to tour New Zealand next month.
"It doesn't matter what I say, I'll get hosed either way," he said of his omission.
"I have to keep putting my hand up and scoring heaps of runs.
"I've found a way to get to 50 and then found a way to get out, so it'd be nice to turn one of those into a match-winning score."
BBL|10 Finals Series
(all matches will screen on Channel 7, Fox Cricket & Kayo)
The Eliminator: Brisbane Heat (4) v Adelaide Strikers (5). Friday, Jan 29, Gabba, 7.15pm AEDT
The Qualifier: Sydney Sixers (1) v Perth Scorchers (2). Saturday Jan 30, Manuka Oval, 7.15pm AEDT
The Knock-Out: Sydney Thunder (3) v Winner of The Eliminator. Sunday, Jan 31, Manuka Oval, 7.15pm AEDT
The Challenger: Loser of The Qualifier v Winner of The Knock-Out. Thurs Feb 4, venue TBC, 7.15pm AEDT
The Final: Winner of The Qualifier v Winner of The Challenger. Sat Feb 6, venue TBC, 7.15pm AEDT