Hurricanes marquee David Miller fails again as Hobart’s finals hopes blown away
David Miller’s nightmare BBL tournament hit rock bottom as Hobart’s finals aspirations all but evaporated in embarrassing scenes at the hands of the Perth Scorchers.
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David Miller’s nightmare BBL tournament hit rock bottom as Hobart’s finals aspirations all but evaporated in embarrassing scenes at the hands of the Perth Scorchers.
If ever the stage was set for the South African import to exert his influence it came at Blundstone Arena when he walked to the crease in the second over with the Hurricanes chasing 176.
However he lasted just three balls before a leading edge popped to cover off Jhye Richardson (4-19) to depart for a duck and join captain Matthew Wade back in the sheds in a horror start to the chase.
Miller, who came to the Big Bash having blasted his highest ODI score in Hobart last summer, has been unable to get out of first gear, managing just 91 runs in nine innings at an average of 13.
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He has joined a long list of international batsman who have failed to fire in purple - none more so than Sri Lankan superstar Kumar Sangakkara, who could only compile 173 runs in two tournaments and was dropped from the side because of his struggles in BBL06.
With D’Arcy Short absent the hosts needed an anchor to overhaul Perth’s 7-175 but Richardson’s early double blow started the rot and the batting woes which have plagued the outfit all tournament continued as they plummeted to their second lowest score ever and a 77-run defeat.
Caleb Jewell (28) and retiring veteran George Bailey (36) rebuilt with a 41-run union before Jewell top edged a sweep from Fawad Ahmed’s third ball of the match to deep square, and when Ben McDermott was trapped in front first ball after Hobart took it’s time-out the chase was in tatters at 4-47 in the ninth over.
The contest started on a much brighter note for the Hurricanes, who struck twice in the first three overs of the Scorchers’ innings.
Liam Livingston was caught behind swinging wildly at Tom Rogers before Clive Rose slipped a quicker delivery straight through Sam Whiteman next over to leave the visitors in trouble at 2-16.
Josh Inglis (73 off 46 balls) and Mitch Marsh (40 from 29) then set about the resurrection in impressive fashion.
The duo combined for a ground record third wicket partnership of 109, finding or clearing the boundary at least once an over while constantly keeping the scoreboard ticking over.
From overs seven to 14 they only faced six dot balls as Hobart’s attack failed to build any pressure until Marsh was brilliantly caught by Qais Ahmad at long on.
When Inglis, who had cracked four boundaries and four sixes on route to the highest score of his career, followed next over also caught on the long on fence, it allowed the Hurricanes to squeeze and pull back a total which was looking headed towards to 200 at one stage.
It proved a target well out of reach regardless, with the third consecutive loss consigning Hobart to a 3-6 record.
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