Having been out-of-form this summer, Fraser-McGurk returned with a bang by smashing a career-best 95 from 46 balls to help the Renegades pull off the second-highest successful BBL chase at Marvel Stadium.
The dynamic 22-year-old attempted to join former Australian white-ball captain Aaron Finch as only the second Renegade to score a century.
But in trying to reach his milestone with a six, and boost the Renegades' net-run-rate, Fraser-McGurk was caught by Matt Renshaw near the rope with his team still requiring 17 to win.
However, Fergus O'Neill (16no) finished the job as the Renegades chased down the Heat's 4-196 with 12 balls to spare.
Jake Fraser-McGurk fell just short of a century. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)
Fraser-McGurk entered the match having made just 93 runs from his first nine BBL games this season, leading to him dropping back to No.3 after starting the tournament opening.
But he destroyed a star-studded Heat bowling attack containing internationals Spencer Johnson, Xavier Bartlett, Mitchell Swepson and Michael Neser in a performance that will delight national selectors.
"I was spewing I couldn't do it throughout the whole tournament," Fraser-McGurk told AAP.
"There was sort of nothing to lose (against the Heat).Â
"It could have been the last game of the (Renegades') season, and it just freed me up a bit.
"I just went out there and I thought, 'stuff it, I'll give it a red-hot crack and take them on'. And it paid off."
Fraser-McGurk, who last week missed out on selection in Australia's Champions Trophy squad, hopes the knock can lead to a good end to the domestic season for South Australia.
"Runs are runs and whenever you make them it gives you a lot of confidence ... hopefully it kick starts something," he said.
After winning last year's title, Brisbane needed to defeat the Renegades to be any chance of qualifying for the finals.
The result moved the Renegades from last spot into fourth, but they will need to rely on cross-town rivals the Stars losing against ladder-leaders Hobart on Sunday night to be assured of featuring in the post-season.
Heat opener Jack Wood (45), keeper Tom Alsop (42 no) and Renshaw (40) set the platform during a bizarre first innings.Â
Renegades captain Will Sutherland and fellow pacer O'Neill were both banned from bowling for the rest of the match for running on the pitch following intervention from umpire Donovan Koch.
Sutherland was taken out of the attack with a ball to go in his third over after Donovan spoke to him, while O'Neill still had nine deliveries he could have bowled for the innings.
In case you missed it, two Melbourne Renegades players were removed from the bowling attack in their match against the Brisbane Heat.— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) Here's what happened 👇 #BBL14 pic.twitter.com/jJtPRVfhCuJanuary 18, 2025
It is rare for one player to be removed from bowling mid-over, but two in the same match is virtually unheard of.
Renegades opener Josh Brown, who has never bowled before in his 37 previous T20 appearances, was forced to fill the void left by Sutherland and O'Neill.
Brown's 2.4 overs went for a whopping 0-48, as the Heat piled on 4-196 - the highest total at Marvel Stadium this season - from their 20 overs.
Sutherland had a nightmare start to the match, twice being hit for three-consecutive sixes - first by Wood in the third over, then by Renshaw in the 12th.
