Hobart Hurricanes have pulled off a remarkable two-run victory over Brisbane Heat to keep their hopes of making the Big Bash League finals alive.

Heat was well on track to run down the Hurricanes’ modest total of 9-120 when needing 16 runs from the final three overs in Launceston with five wickets in hand.

But the chase imploded, with top scorer Jimmy Peirson (39 from 37) falling to Nathan Ellis in an 18th over that went for four runs.

Hurricanes quick Joel Paris then got rid of Michael Neser in the next over and conceded just two.

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Brisbane required 10 runs for victory off the final over, bowled by part-timer Tim David, but managed just seven despite a heaving maximum from Tim Bazley off the third-last ball.

Bazley needed a four off the final delivery to win the match but could only squeeze a single, leaving the Heat at 8-118.

The result means the Hurricanes jump to fifth on the ladder, a position they can hold if the sixth-placed Sydney Thunder lose to Melbourne Stars on Wednesday night.

“What a game. We obviously took a risk bowling myself and Riley (Meredith) out early. We knew full well that Tim (David) was going to have to bowl the 20th (over),” Ellis, who took 2-26, told FoxCricket.

“Fortunately it just came off. We got a couple of wickets at the right time. For Tim as a part-time off-spinner to do that. It was unbelievable.

“It was just one of those days where any time we came up with a plan it came off.”

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Heat, meanwhile, missed a golden chance to secure third spot and hosting rights for ‘The Knockout’ final on Sunday.

It could finish either fourth or fifth, depending on the result of the Thunder and Stars match at the MCG.

Heat fell to 4-30 in the sixth over of the chase, before a 73-run partnership between Peirson and Sam Hain (26 from 34) ironed out a big chunk of the total.

The Hurricanes earlier wobbled to 9-120 after losing the toss and being sent in to bat.

Mac Wright was their sole lone spark with the bat on a tricky pitch, scoring a run-a-ball 56 in his first match of the summer.

Marnus Labuschagne pulled off two sharp outfield catches – a low diving effort to get rid of Ben McDermott (two from seven balls) and an overhead grab to remove danger man David (four from six).

Rookie left-arm quick Spencer Johnson was impressive early (2-20 from four overs) and at the death.

-AAP