Hobart batters misfire as Hurricanes crash to first loss of the WBBL tournament

The Hurricanes perfect opening to the WBBL season has come to a shuddering halt after being struck by an Adelaide Lightning storm during the festival weekend at Allan Border Field

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA — OCTOBER 26: Fran Wilson of the Hurricanes hits the ball to the boundary for a four during the Women's Big Bash League match between the Adelaide Strikers and the Hobart Hurricanes at Allan Border Field on October 26, 2019 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

THE dream start to WBBL05 has ended for the Hobart Hurricanes with a tight three-run loss

to the Adelaide Strikers at Allan Border Field in Brisbane ending their unbeaten opening to the tournament.

Restricting the Strikers to just 8-113 in the first innings, the Hurricanes failed to follow-up on

their work with the ball despite Nicola Carey (39 from 37) doing everything in her power to

keep their unbeaten run intact.

Hurricanes coach Salliann Briggs, while pleased with the team’s start to the tournament, felt

it was a game they let slip.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA — OCTOBER 26: Heather Knight of the Hurricanes looks dejected after losing her wicket during the Women's Big Bash League match between the Adelaide Strikers and the Hobart Hurricanes at Allan Border Field on October 26, 2019 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

“It was really disappointing after a great start with the ball. To keep them to 113 was

brilliant and we thought we’d performed really well but we just couldn’t get the runs on the

board,” Briggs said.

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“We allowed them to bowl at us too much and there were just too many dot balls in that

final phase of the game. They (Strikers) were really smart in taking the pace off that wicket

which worked really well for them.”

Carey, fresh off an unbeaten 60 against the Melbourne Stars last Sunday, was also damaging

with the ball (2-25) while off-season recruit Tayla Vlaeminick (2-18) showed her lightning

quick pace early in the piece.

“The great thing with our bowling attack now is that there is a lot of versatility there. There’s a great skill set within that department we just need to make sure we are putting the runs on the board as well,” Briggs said.

With the opportunity to get back on the winner’s list today against the Brisbane Heat, Briggs

implored her players to stick to what had worked up until this point of the tournament.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA — OCTOBER 26: Belinda Vakarewa of the Hurricanes bowls during the Women's Big Bash League match between the Adelaide Strikers and the Hobart Hurricanes at Allan Border Field on October 26, 2019 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

“We’re playing the reigning champs on the same wicket, so we know it’s going to be tough,

we just need to remind ourselves what we are good at and stick to our plans.”