McSweeney guides Heat to win after Australia dropping
- Published
Nathan McSweeney responded to being dropped from the Australia Test squad with an unbeaten 78 to help Brisbane Heat beat Adelaide Strikers in a final-ball thriller in the Big Bash League.
McSweeney hit 10 fours and two sixes in his 49-ball knock as defending champions Heat chased 175.
The right-hander made his international debut in the series against India and averaged 14.40 in the first three Tests, but has been replaced by 19-year-old Sam Konstas for the final two matches.
He was supported by Matt Renshaw's 54 from 27 balls, while Essex's Paul Walter added 19.
Strikers had posted 174-6 with England's Jamie Overton making 45 not out from 24 balls and Ollie Pope 34 off 29 balls.
"It is nice to get the boys home. It was probably a bit over par so it is a really good win for us," McSweeney said on Sky Sports.
"It is always nice to bounce back. I loved my time in the Australia cricket team, sharing the changing room with some of Australia's greatest players was awesome and hopefully I can learn from the experience and get back there soon.
"Marnus [Labuschagne] told me 'it is not where it starts, it is where it ends' and every good story has its ups and downs so hopefully I can look back on this as a great learning curve."
