Sensational juggled catch outside the boundary secures Brisbane Heat’s BBL win over Sixers

Michael Neser pulled off a sensational and controversial catch to secure the Brisbane Heat's 15-run win over the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League at the Gabba on Sunday night.

Neser caught Jordan Silk (41 off 23 balls) in the 19th over, but only after knocking the ball in the air while behind the boundary rope.

Neser reached the ball just inside the boundary rope but was unable to complete the catch without stepping behind it, so threw the ball in the air, went outside the field of play, jumped to toss the ball up once more while airborne, then completed the catch inside the boundary rope.

Commentating on Seven, the Australian international Glenn Maxwell explained why the catch was legitimate.

"Effectively he could throw it up 300 times as long as his feet were in the air."

Neser told 7Cricket: "I knew [Matt] Renshaw did it a couple of years ago. I didn't know if they had changed the rules so I thought I would give it a crack. Thankfully they didn't change the rules."

Some fans on social media argued that although the catch was within the rules, the rule was unfair.

The Sixers made a gallant response in their pursuit of a BBL record run chase, but fell short to be all out from the final delivery for 209.

Neser's catch to dismiss Sixers skipper Silk was the decisive moment in the run chase after he had also taken 3-41 with the ball.

Silk and allrounder Hayden Kerr (27) added 54 in 26 balls for the sixth wicket but Kerr was brilliantly stumped by Jimmy Peirson off spinner Matt Kuhnemann (2-31).

Earlier Josh Brown earlier produced his whirlwind innings to score 62 off just 23 balls in the Heat's 5-224, in front of 23,689 fans.

He brought up his fifty in just 19 deliveries, the equal fifth fastest in Heat history in just his second BBL game.