Roach a champion

PERTH – West Indies pacer Kemar Roach saved his best for last, producing a superb spell to help propel Brisbane Heat to the capture of the Australian Big Bash title yesterday.
Roach finished with three for 18 from four accurate overs as Brisbane successfully defended 167, to snatch a 34-run win in the final of the tournament at the WACA Ground.
Choosing to bat first, Brisbane were led by Joe Burns, who struck 43 from 27 balls with four fours and two sixes, while opener Luke Pomersbach and Daniel Christian weighed in with 37 apiece.
Pomersbach and Burns laid the foundation for the innings with a 56-run second-wicket stand off 47 balls, as Brisbane finished on 167 for five from their 20 overs.
In reply, Perth got 49 off 32 balls from Adam Voges, with Marcus North chipping in with 24 from 23 deliveries, as they climbed to within sight of victory at 97 for four in the 14th over.
Roach had endured an ordinary run in the Big Bash with just two wickets in his previous seven games but roared to life when it mattered most.
He plucked out opener Marcus Stoinis (1) in the second over to a catch by Nathan Hauritz at third man, to leave Perth on five for one.
Pulled from the attack after two overs, Roach returned to snap up two more wickets late in the game as Perth lost five wickets for five runs in 14 deliveries, to slide to defeat.
With Perth needing 44 runs from 18 balls, Roach grabbed two wickets in the 18th over that yielded just three runs.
He had Simon Katich caught at deep cover without scoring off a slower ball and then removed danger man Voges to a catch at deep mid-wicket two balls later.
Roach, however, missed out on the Man-Of-The-Match award which went to Hauritz, who did not pick up a wicket in three overs that cost 11 runs. (CMC/HG)