BBL, Hurricanes v Thunder: David launches sixes out of the ground as ‘Canes make chase look easy

The Hurricanes are now atop the table after Tim David launched six massive sixes, some of which flew out of the stadium, as Hobart made chasing the Thunder’s target look easy.

Hobart Hurricanes have gone to the top of the table after back-to-back Tim David half-centuries lifted the home side to a strong six-wicket win with 19 balls remaining on Friday night.

David took complete control of the game with an epic 68no off 38 balls including two one-handed sixes and a ball out of Bellerive Oval in a blistering knock.

It followed a sensational unbeaten 62 from the 28-year-old the last time the Hurricanes played in Hobart where they are unbeaten this season with four wins.

This Tim David six is the cherry on top for a HUGE Hurricanes Power Surge!

📺 WATCH #BBL14 on Ch. 501 or stream via Kayo https://t.co/dg4JTTCCH5
✍️ LIVE BLOG https://t.co/0BcreJ34dD
🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/N4R1h0s2Jopic.twitter.com/ufigqx8Aji

— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) January 10, 2025

Thunder captain David Warner struck an excellent half century of 88no off 68 in the first innings to lead the visitors to 6-164.

But even without Ben McDermott who went down with a hamstring injury late in the first innings in his 100th BBL game, the Hurricanes completed the task with Nikhil Chaudhary (29) coming into McDermott’s spot at four before David’s match-winning display.

The first maximum of the game didn’t come until the 21st over of the game where Mitch Owen struck the third ball of the run chase sky-high over the rope.

Then Matthew Wade followed with a flick off his pads going onto the roof of the Ricky Ponting stand in the second over.

Tim David launched six big sixes into the stands for the Hurricanes. Picture: Getty Images

David then hit another one onto a similar spot on the same roof as the power surge went for 0-38 in a game-chaning two-over period.

The equation was 58 off 42 balls before the surge and then 20 off 30 balls by the end as Chris Jordan (18no) and David hit two and four boundaries respectively while only two fielders were allowed outside the ring.

It is now 10 of the last 12 games where the team chasing has won at Bellerive Oval as the Hurricanes move closer to securing first finals appearance in three seasons and a potential top-two finish.

Earlier, David Warner carried his bat in a six-less Thunder innings as a Hurricanes star found himself in the middle of a scary incident during a crucial time.

Warner continued his purple patch of form with a third half-century in four games to climb to the top of the Big Bash runs tally.

The Thunder skipper brought up his fourth-ever BBL fifty with an unbeaten 88 off 66 deliveries against the Hobart Hurricanes on Friday to take top spot from Cooper Connolly in the aggregate runs.

After starting the season with an average of 14.3 from the first three games, Warner has since notched 273 runs at 136.5 in four matches.

David Warner raises the bat after scoring a half century. Picture: Getty Images

He has played a major part in leading the Thunder to top position on the table during an injury crisis where six players from their original 18-player squad have been sidelined.

Warner was the fourth-leading runs scorer in the competition prior to his knock at Ninja Stadium where he hit seven fours.

The 38-year-old showing no sign of age brought up his fifty off 46 balls before rising to his second highest score in his 19-game career in the competition.

The Thunder posted a competitive 6-164 in the first innings where Nathan Ellis bounced back from a head injury scare in the 15th over to come back on and complete four overs.

🗣 Mitch Owen: "When I first got to (Ellis), he said, 'I think I'm OK, I think I'm OK.'"

A relief to see Nathan Ellis up and walking around after a heavy collision with the fence 🙏#BBL14pic.twitter.com/WjJxyf6F26

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 10, 2025

Hurricanes player Nathan Ellis lays prone after colliding head-first with the advertising board.

Ellis left the field after a scary incident when the bowler slid head-first into the advertising board.

A deflection off Thunder star David Warner’s bat after completing a run sent the ball towards the boundary rope at Hobart’s Ninja Stadium, and Ellis gave chase.

He threw himself at the ball, and while he appeared to keep it in the field of play, the momentum took him straight into the boards.

Play stopped for a few minutes as he was assessed, but he was back to his feet off the field for further tests.

Billy Stanlake and Nathan Ellis of the Hurricanes celebrate a wicket. Picture: Getty Images

The timing wasn’t ideal for the Hurricanes, with Ellis likely to take the ball in the next over to defend the Thunder’s expected power surge.

They didn’t take it, but with Ellis still off, Nikhil Chaudhary took the ball.

After allowing seven runs from his first three deliveries, including the single Warner needed to reach 50, Chaudhaury had Sam Billings bowled off an inside edge for 28 from 15 balls.

Ellis was seen on the sideline ready to re-enter the contest, and was back in the field during Chaudhaury’s over.

He took the ball to bowl the 18th and 20th overs.

Thunder star David Warner calls for a new bat. Picture: Getty Images

Warner was at 49 runs from 45 balls at the time, with the Thunder just reaching 3-104 after 14.4 disciplined overs by the Hurricanes bowlers.

It hasn’t been an innings of big hits and flashy sixes from Warner, who has grinded his way past the half-century milestone.

He was involved in a unique moment early in his innings when his bat snapped, swung and hit him in the back of the helmet.

Have you seen this before? 😂🤔

📺 WATCH #BBL14 on Ch. 501 or stream via Kayo https://t.co/dg4JTTCCH5
✍️ LIVE BLOG https://t.co/0BcreJ34dD
🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/N4R1h0s2Jopic.twitter.com/57gop1Zvex

— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) January 10, 2025

Warner went on to reach an unbeaten 88 from 66 balls, which featured seven fours, as the Thunder struggled to reach the fence.

Riley Meredith got the big wicket of Sam Konstas while Billy Stanlake (1-25) and Peter Hatzoglou (0-29) were most economical.

Sam Billings scored 28 off 15 balls for the Thunder.

International replacement Mohammad Hasnain finished with 0-49 off three overs in his for game for the Thunder this season.

Charlie Wakim got the Hurricanes off to a steady start with a run-a-ball 16 coming in at number three on debut.

WARNER DELIGHTS

Warner played a superb innings with the 38-year-old continually putting pressure on the Hurricanes fielders with hard running between the wickets.

In his first full season with the Thunder after a decorated international career, Warner added an unbeaten 88 to scores of 50, 49 and 86* in the three games prior.

Warner continued the trend of gritty knocks as he pushed the Thunder past a slow 3-85 off 13 overs to help hit 79 runs from the last seven overs.

Even after his bat, which he likely used in prior matches, broke from the handle in 12th ball of his innings, it didn’t stop the lively left hander from continuing his solid form.

It was the veteran opener’s third fifty in four games and second highest BBL score as he also climbed to the top of the competition runs tally.

MCDERMOTT INJURY

Ben McDermott clutched at his left hamstring late in the first innings and did not come out to bat in his usual number four spot in his 100th game for the Hurricanes.

The 30-year-old reportedly had “hamstring soreness” with the Hurricanes “playing it by ear” as to whether he will bat or not in the run chase.

“He has got that hamstring injury so it doesn’t look like he is going to bat unless he has to stand there and slog,” Brendon Julian said during play on Fox Cricket.

Talk continued with the idea of the hard-hitting right-hander being used in the power surge.

McDermott is 26 runs away from surpassing D’Arcy Short (2706) as the all-time leading run scorer for the Hurricanes in BBL history.

The two teams are striving for a win to take top spot on the ladder.

Originally published as BBL, Hurricanes v Thunder: David launches sixes out of the ground as ‘Canes make chase look easy