David turns Goliath with late fireworks
Singaporean international delivered the best BBL performance of his short career as Hobart produced a stirring fightback to shock the Sydney Sixers.
Singaporean international Tim David delivered the best BBL performance of his short career as Hobart produced a stirring fightback to shock the Sydney Sixers in the tournament opener.
David, who in 12 Big Bash matches with the Perth Scorchers boasted a highest score of just 18, cracked a rapid fire 33-ball 58 on his debut in purple as the Hurricanes recovered from a disastrous start to post 8-178 at Blundstone Arena.
The Sixers were coasting to victory with English international James Vince (67 off 41 balls) and Jack Edwards (47 from 39) combining for the third highest partnership (116) in the franchise’s history.
However the wheels fell off when they were dismissed in quick succession.
Vince was trapped in front by James Faulkner and speedster Riley Meredith rattled Edwards’ stumps four balls later, with Hobart turning the screws to secure a 16-run win.
Earlier it was the hosts who were rocked, reduced to 2-1 after seven balls when BBL debutant Will Jacks fell for a second-ball duck and Ben Dwarshuis claimed the prized scalp of linchpin D’Arcy Short first ball in a stunning start for the defending champions.
But South African import Colin Ingram (55 off 42 balls) led the rescue mission before David added the late fireworks.
An average of 46.5 and strike rate of 154 at international level – albeit against lesser opposition – proves David is no slouch with the willow, and his move to the Hurricanes looks set to give him the platform to explode.
The Hurricanes can lay claim to helping launch the career of English superstar Jofra Archer but when it comes to batting imports there has been more misses than hits for the side.
Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara, Englishman Alex Hales and South African David Miller last year are just three of the big overseas recruits who have failed to fire during their time in Hobart.
There’s plenty of time for Jacks to turn around his fortunes but a first-over dismissal was far from how the emerging English talent was intending to start his Big Bash career.
Jordan Silk plays his Sheffield Shield cricket for Tasmania but he has built a reputation as one of the best fielders in the country with the Sixers and again showcased his incredible athleticism and agility.
In the first over of Hobart’s Power Surge, Ingram slapped former Test spinner Stephen O’Keefe over mid-wicket for what looked like a certain six.
Silk had other ideas, sprinting 25-30m around the boundary and leaping full stretch to grab a one- handed screamer.
Unfortunately he was forced to flick the ball back into play as his momentum carried him over the rope, denying Silk the catch of the summer and Ingram of six runs.
One of the three new rule changes introduced to BBL10 was the Bash Boost, where the side with the higher total after 10 overs is awarded a point.
The Sixers easily bagged the extra offering by effortlessly reaching 1-85 at the halfway point of their innings, compared to the Hurricanes who only managed 3-72 after their horror start.
The Mercury
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