Hobart keep their cool as Strikers were all set to give a major upset

The fifth match of BBL was between Hobart Hurricanes and Adelaide Strikers. This was the first match for the Strikers while the Hurricanes were coming off after a comprehensive win against the strikers. The Strikers won the bat flip and elected to bowl first. The Hurricanes got a phenomenal start by their openers as they went on to add a partnership of 63 runs in 8 overs. Will Jacks got out to Wes Agar after scoring 34 off 25 deliveries which had 2 boundaries and 2 maximums. Ingram joined D’Arcy Short in the middle and took the scorecard ahead with him. Short went on to score a power packed innings of 72 runs which had 6 boundaries and 4 maximums.

After losing Short, Strikers couldn’t recover from his dismissal as Ingram soon went back and no other batsman could get the scoreboard going. The Hurricanes were once looking to go beyond 200 and after losing Short and Ingram, the team ended on 174 for 5 wickets at the end of their 20 overs. Strikers pulled the match back into their favor at the end of first innings. For Strikers, Wes Agar was pick of the bowlers as he picked 2 wickets and gave only 28 runs in his 4 over quota.

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The Strikers didn’t start well in the second innings as they lost their openers within first 3 overs. No other batsman was staying at the crease for long period of time as they kept losing wickets. Matt Renshaw was trying to get runs but wasn’t getting any support from other end as pressure of chasing target kept building up. Finally even he succumbed to pressure and got out to James Faulkner after scoring 33 off 27 deliveries. The match was a dead rubber as Striker were struggling at 78 for loss of 7 wickets. The right handed all rounder Daniel Worrall from Melbourne wasn’t going down without a fight as he began to strike the ball efficiently. Soon two more wickets fell and it was almost sure that Hurricanes would win easily. Danny Briggs joined Worrall in the middle when the score was at 102/9. Strikers needed 73 runs from 34 deliveries.

 

Both the batsmen at the crease started striking the ball efficiently. Soon they bring up a 50 run stand between them in just 24 deliveries. Hurricanes were in panic as the game was going away from them. The Hobart skipper took a gamble and gave the ball to D’Arcy Short in the 18th over which backfired badly. Short went for 17 runs in that single over and the Strikers needed 28 of 12 deliveries. The 19th over was bowled by Nathan Ellies which was a turning point of the game as he gave only 8 runs in the penultimate over. The Strikers needed 19 off the final over which they failed to chase and Hurricanes won by 11 runs.

For Strikers, Worrall scored a unbeaten 62 off 39 deliveries and was well supported by Briggs who scored 35 off 18 deliveries. The pick of the bowlers from Hurricanes was James Faulkner who gave a terrific start dismantling Strikers top order. His figures were 3 wickets for 21 runs in his 4 over quota.

Man of the Match was given to D’Arcy Short for his 72 runs knock. With this win Hurricanes go to second spot in the points table below the Melbourne Stars.