Chris Jordan stars as Hobart Hurricanes crush Sydney Sixers in BBL clash

Jackson Bird produced career-best figures but Chris Jordan was the man as the Hurricanes dominated the Sixers in the clash of the BBL heavyweights. WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS

A career-best 4-16 from Jackson Bird was not enough to stop the Hobart Hurricanes from rising to a dominant 50-run win over the Sydney Sixers on New Year’s Day.

With skipper Nathan Ellis a late withdrawal due to illness, the Canes’ had a wide array of contributors to lift them to a third win on the trot.

Chris Jordan blasted a one-handed six in the final over to lift Hobart’s total to 6-161 before the English international took 3-22 with the ball to leave the Sixers well short in front of 8,049 fans at Ninja Stadium.

Chris Jordan starred as the Hurricanes dominated the Sixers. Picture: Getty Images

It is the first loss of the season for the Sixers who go to a 4-1 record.

Centurion from December 26 James Vince looked threatening after striking the biggest six of the game with a leg glance in the second over, but he fell soon after for 11.

The Sixers lost wicket too frequently to ever give themselves a resonable chance of completing the chase as each of Hobart’s six bowlers took a wicket.

Leg-spinner Peter Hatzoglou was a late-in for Ellis and took 1-15 in his first game of the season.

Pace bowler Riley Meredith was most economical with 1-12 off three overs while Waqar Salamkheil and Billy Stanlake both took 2-22.

Earlier Mitch Owen struck 33 off 17 balls with the bat before Ben McDermott (34 off 25) and Nikhil Chaudhary (42 off 31) put on a brilliant 70-run fourth wicket stand, including 0-33 in the power surge to lift the Canes’ to a defendable total.

JACKSON BIRD’S BIG OVER

When the Hurricanes were cruising at 1-53 off six overs, pace bowler Bird stepped in to turn the momentum the Sixers’ way.

The 38-year-old took two wickets for three runs in the next over including key wickets of Matthew Wade and Shai Hope to make it 3-56 off seven.

“I have played a lot of cricket down here having 12 years with the Tigers so I love bowling down here,” Bird said on Fox Cricket during his side’s batting innings.

“It was nice to get some wickets when we needed it, they got off to a pretty good start so it was nice to claw it back and get a reasonable target to chase.”

Jackson Bird priduced career-best figures for the Sixers. Picture: Getty Images

MITCH OWEN GOES BIG

Mitch Owen looked like he was going to make it back-to-back centuries at Ninja Stadium after getting the Hurricanes off to a flying start.

The 23-year-old put on an opening partnership of 45 runs with Matthew Wade in which he contributed 35 towards.

But the opener skied a ball off pacer Hayden Kerr in the fifth over to fall for a quick-fire 33 off 17 balls.

Owen played a crucial knock, nonetheless, hitting a six on the fourth ball before consecutive boundaries in the third and fourth overs including three in a row against leading BBL14 wicket taker Ben Dwarshuis.

Mitch Owen looked set for another century after a flying start, but fell for 33 runs. Picture: Getty Images

MATTHEW WADE TESTS CALF

There were some nervous signs early when Wade turned down a single in the first over letting Owen know he was “coming back from a calf” injury.

But the veteran wicketkeeper gave fans more comfort when he called his partner through for a single on the next ball that headed to short-fine leg.

Originally published as Chris Jordan stars as Hobart Hurricanes crush Sydney Sixers in BBL clash