(Cricket News) The hosts were flying at the Gabba on Wednesday after Nathan McSweeney’s (73 off 52) delightful innings, before they lost 7 for 16 to be all out for 172. Daniel Sams took four wickets in his final over and finished with a career-best 5 for 30 to claim Thunder’s first five-wicket haul.

Cameron Bancroft (46 off 39) was engineering the Thunder’s chase nicely but came undone in a decisive 14th over. Brisbane Heat defied a horrifying collapse and a historic Daniel Sams spell to win by 15 runs and remain undefeated in the Big Bash League.

Calling for the power surge at 97 for 2, the opener was removed straight away as Xavier Bartlett (3-29) went for just three runs off the bat and a leg bye. Ollie Davies then looked to play the decisive hand, but Matthew Kuhnemann (2 for 25) outwitted his man, racing for a crisp caught-and-bowled, and Sams was out in the next over.

Michael Neser then caught Nathan McAndrew just short to end any chance of a successful chase, with the Thunder concluding the innings at 157 for 9.

After Colin Munro was caught at deep square leg for a golden duck, the Heat put on an impressive 106 with the help of McSweeney and Josh Brown (39 off 29). Big-hitter Brown, however, took a backseat as McSweeney powered the innings with pure stroke-making and clever placement.

Cameos from Matt Renshaw and Sam Billings moved them to 156 for 3 before the rot set in, with Sams’ changes of pace making the Heat’s lower order look foolish. The Heat’s victory moved them clear at the top of the ladder with four wins and a washed-out no result ahead of Perth.

Thunder fell into the same trap, though, with Brisbane’s spinners forcing a 29-ball stretch without a boundary before the wickets fell. He had McSweeney caught at cover before Bartlett, Spencer Johnson, and Mitchell Swepson were undone by slower balls.

The all-rounder was unlucky not to jag a hat-trick, with Swepson’s mistimed slog falling just short of the bowler’s feet.

See also: Dean Elgar’s century leads South Africa to an 11-run lead