Jofra Archer, D’Arcy Short help Hurricanes seal thrilling Big Bash win over gutsy Adelaide Strikers

SUPERB bowling and a spectacular catch from Jofra Archer sealed a thrilling win for the Hurricanes over the Adelaide Strikers — but not before the visitors almost pulled off an epic comeback.

A MEEK bowling display and a slow start with the bat have ended Adelaide Strikers’ perfect Big Bash League record despite a thrilling late salvo against Hobart Hurricanes.

The Strikers lost two wickets in the first three overs of its run chase at Bellerive Oval, before almost pulling off a remarkable victory thanks to Colin Ingram’s brilliant 66. Adelaide needed 13 off its last over chasing the Hurricanes’ 5/183. SCROLL DOWN TO RECAP HOW THE GAME UNFOLDED It managed just six from three-wicket hero Jofra Archer’s final six balls to fall to a seven-run defeat. Earlier, Hurricanes opener D’Arcy Short blasted 96 off 58 balls to help the hosts post a dominant total from their 20 overs. Adelaide came into the clash in buoyant mood following its resounding New Year’s Eve victory over Brisbane Heat. But an aggressive Hurricanes batting display, led by Short’s blistering nine fours and four sixes, swung the contest in Hobart’s favour. The Strikers recovered from 2/10 off the first three overs of their innings to claw their way back into the match on the back of Ingram’s superb 44-ball knock, which included 11 boundaries. Adelaide needed 47 off 24 balls with seven wickets in hand as an improbable victory suddenly appeared possible. Its hopes were dashed when South African Ingram was caught by Tymal Mills after Archer stopped another six and tossed the ball back inside the rope. Jake Lehmann (16 off 8) smacked Dan Christian over the rope to leave the Strikers needing 25 off the final two overs. Jonathan Wells, who cracked 28 off 18 balls, also cleared the boundary off Mills to give Adelaide a sniff heading into the last over. But Lehmann was caught LBW by Archer (3/15 off 4) and Michael Neser was run out by Matthew Wade to leave the Strikers just short of a memorable win. Jofra Archer's freakish reflexes lead to classic catch D’Arcy got Hobart off to a strong start after it won the toss when he clubbed the first two balls he faced for four. Fellow opener Alex Doolan (29 off 23) got in on the act with a six off Neser to push the home side to 0/51 in six overs. In-form leg-spinner Rashid Khan (2/18 off four overs) finally made the breakthrough in the eighth over when his skidding leg break found the edge of Doolan’s bat and Alex Carey took the catch. Ben McDermott (18 off 18) clubbed a huge six off Billy Stanlake on to the roof of the Ricky Ponting stand in the 12th over. Teenage sensation Khan removed McDermott in the following over thanks to a brilliant diving catch in the outfield by Jake Weatherald. Stanlake (2/27 off four) dismissed Hobart skipper George Bailey cheaply and struck again to remove Short, before Matthew Wade (20 off 13) added late runs. Needing more than nine an over, Stikers opener Weatherald pulled Alex Rose for a four with the fourth ball of the innings. But Carey top-edged an Archer bouncer to Mills in the next over to leave the visitors 1/9. Weatherald (7) fell soon after when he skied a Clive Rose delivery to George Bailey. Ingram hit three sixes in the 10th over off Simon Milenko to finally get the Strikers’ run chase moving. Travis Head (44 off 32) belted Mills into the stands and Ingram did likewise to push the Strikers to 2/100 off 12 overs. The skipper was looking menacing, but he mistimed an attempted slog off Archer and was caught by Milenko.

Originally published as Jofra Archer, D’Arcy Short help Hurricanes seal thrilling Big Bash win over gutsy Adelaide Strikers

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