The Heat suffered an early collapse, losing three quick wickets and then two more to be sitting with a “sorry looking scorecard”.
The first wicket saw Jack Wildermuth depart off Starc’s bowling, slapping a full toss to Abbott in the covers.
Abbott then got in on the action, with Usman Khawaja hitting a wayward Sean Abbott delivery straight to Ben Dwarshuis in a moment he’d love to forget.
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Matthew Renshaw was also no match for a swinging Starc delivery, driving and nicking the ball in Test-cricket fashion with Josh Phillipe doing the rest.
Steve Smith also dropped a catch in the fifth over, unable to reel in a sizzling Nathan McSweeney cut shot.
But from there, McSweeney and Max Bryant rallied until the latter departed with Sam Curran grabbing the crucial breakthrough after catching the batter’s pad.
Two balls later, Jimmy Peirson followed him after slapping a Starc full toss straight to cover to leave the Heat at 6/96.
“All of a sudden it’s a sorry looking scorecard,” Isa Guha said.
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PRE-MATCH WRAP
A finals spot is on the line for both the Heat and Sixers in a makeshift finals clash on Sunday night.
With the Hurricanes, Stars and Scorchers already locked in to the BBL15 finals series and the Strikers, Renegades and Thunder out of contention — only one spot remains.
While the winner of Brisbane or Sydney will slot into the final, there’s also something on the line for Hobart who learn if they have a second chance depending on the result.
Short hits MASSIVE six for Strikers | 00:30
If the Sixers win, the Hurricanes finish in second and face Perth with a second chance,
The Heat, meanwhile, kept their finals hopes alive with an impressive win in the final over against the Hurricanes in their last outing.
The Sydney side in magenta will be hopeful Test superstar Steve Smith can once again shine after he belted a staggering century against the Thunder.
Brisbane also have a host of Test stars in their ranks, with the likes of Usman Khawaja, Michael Neser and Marnus Labuschagne returning after the conclusion of the Ashes.
SQUADS
Brisbane Heat: Tom Balkin, Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Zaman Khan, Usman Khawaja (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan McSweeney, Michael Neser, Oli Patterson, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Hugh Weibgen, Jack Wildermuth
Sydney Sixers: Sean Abbott, Babar Azam, Sam Curran, Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Daniel Hughes, Moises Henriques (c), Hayden Kerr, Ben Manenti, Josh Philippe, Lachlan Shaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc
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