Freshly retired Usman Khawaja blazes 78 to help Brisbane Heat flatten Sydney Thunder
Usman Khawaja and Matt Renshaw (Source: HeatBBL on X)
Published - 10 Jan 2026, 08:59 AM• Read time - 2 mins
Usman Khawaja's international career may be over, but there's still a lot of cricket left in him as he smashed 78 off 48 balls to help Brisbane Heat thrash Sydney Thunder by seven wickets at the Gabba in Brisbane on January 10.
Chasing 181, Heat got off to an absolute flying start as Jack Wildermuth went after Wes Agar in the third over. Wildermuth smashed three sixes and a boundary and took a single off the last delivery to collect 23 runs in the over and made his intent absolutely clear.
Wildermuth's counterattack allowed Khawaja to ease into the run chase and get his eye in. While Daniel Sams removed Wildermuth in the next over, the damage had already been done with Heat cruising at 57 for the loss of one wicket in 3.5 overs.
Nathan McSweeney's wicket in the seventh over appeared as an opening for Thunder, but a 93-run stand between Khawaja and Matt Renshaw shut the door down on their face. Khawaja's innings saw him smash seven fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 162.50.
Oh my goodness!
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 10, 2026
That is such a good cricket shot. #BBL15 pic.twitter.com/ekaA8UWmxz
Renshaw's quick blitz (42* off 26 balls) meant that Heat were never under scoreboard pressure, and they eventually got over the line with 22 balls to spare. The win catapulted Heat to number five on the points table with four wins and as many losses after eight games.
Earlier, Thunder elected to bat after winning the bat flip. However, they could never manage to skyrocket as the Heat's bowling attack applied sustained pressure.
Warner was the star of the show for Thunder. The skipper scored 82 off 56 balls with the help of eight fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 146.42. He stitched an 84-run partnership for the third wicket with Sam Billings, which went a long way in Thunder posting 180 for the loss of six wickets.
Thunder failed to light up at the death due to a disciplined effort from Heat. Renshaw was the pick for Heat as he returned figures of 2/29 in his four overs.
