Key batsmen Chris Lynn and Marnus Labuschagne lifted BBL finals hopefuls Brisbane Heat to a defendable total, posting 5-173 in the crunch clash with Melbourne Renegades.
The Heat batted first for just the third time this season and benefited from a string of sloppy Renegades fielding errors.
BBL all-time leading run-scorer Lynn (52 off 30) drew level with Perth's Colin Munro for the most half-centuries this season, posting his fourth of the campaign.
The Heat skipper and Max Bryant (26) got their side off to an explosive start, combining for a dozen boundaries in a rapid 78-run partnership before Zak Evans landed an important double-blow in the ninth over.
The 20-year-old fourth-gamer swung the momentum in the space of three deliveries, with Lynn caught on the rope chasing another six and Bryant caught behind.
Joe Denly (9) and Joe Burns (7) were out without reaching double figures and the Heat failed to cash in on the power surge, adding just 1-14 as Burns was bowled by Peter Hatzoglou.
Evans produced another big wicket when Test batsman Labuschagne (49 off 31) mistimed a ramp shot, and the right-arm seamer finished with 3-34 from three overs.
Spinners Hatzoglou (1-29) and Imad Wasim (1-30) were tidy from their four overs each, with the former again impressing in the power play and power surge.
Labuschagne, Lewis Gregory (16 not out) and Jimmy Peirson (10 not out) took 41 runs off the final three overs to put the Heat in a good position.
The seventh-placed Heat are the lowest-ranked finals contender but can put themselves right in contention with a win over the Renegades.
