Hobart Hurricanes in cruise control as they blow away Melbourne Stars

The Hobart Hurricanes have delivered their passionate fans an early Christmas present with a comfortable Big Bash victory over the Melbourne Stars.

THE Hobart Hurricanes have delivered their passionate fans an early Christmas present with a comfortable Big Bash victory over the Melbourne Stars.

For just the second time in their BBL history – and the first time since BBL|01 – the Hurricanes have won their opening two matches of a tournament after cruising to a six-wicket win against the Stars at Blundstone Arena.

Hobart rarely needed to get out of second gear in chasing down the 156-run target, with another brilliant performance from star import Jofra Archer (3-25) helping restrict the visitors to 5-155.

Melbourne was unable to gather any momentum in its batting powerplay, scraping together 2-35 at less than a run a ball as Archer subdued openers Travis Dean (11 from nine balls) and Ben Dunk (10 from 18).

GALLERY: CROWD LAPS UP HURRICANE ACTION

Matthew Wade sends another delivery to the boundary on his way to 52. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty

Nick Larkin (45 from 33) and Glenn Maxwell (47 off 31) rebuilt the innings with an 87-run partnership, with Maxwell benefiting from a life on 23 to explode with three sixes in his next five balls as he threatened to rip the game away from the hosts.

D’Arcy Short (2-23) trapped Larkin LBW to break the stand and Archer returned to remove Maxwell in similar fashion as the Stars posted a total which appeared under par on a good pitch and with one short boundary.

Short and Hurricanes skipper Matthew Wade then combined for a 55-run union to kick start the chase in perfect fashion, with Short blasting 20 runs from Dwayne Bravo’s first over, the fifth of the innings, to get the equation under control.

The dynamic left-hander fell in unusual circumstances for a 22-ball 34, when he ducked a Scott Boland bouncer but left his bat above his head, with the ball scraping the edge and Dunk climbed high to his right to pluck a one-handed catch.

For the second time in two matches Alex Doolan was undone by a crafty spinner when Sandeep Lamichhane (3-24) sent a wrong’un through the gate, but Wade (52) and Ben McDermott (28) kept the scoreboard ticking over without much fanfare.

Wade brought up his half century with a lofted six over long on, only to fall a few balls later top edging a sweep to short fine leg and when McDermott followed soon after the Stars sniffed an opening.

Jofra Archer celebrates the wicket of Travis Dean. Picture: AAP

However George Bailey delivered the knockout blow, finishing 27 not out to seal the result with eight balls left.

“It’s a good start, hopefully we can run with a bit of momentum and hold onto it for as long as we can,” Wade said.

“Jofra, he has been amazing, he is a bit like ‘Birdy’ [Jackson Bird] in Shield cricket, he takes his three for not many and everyone brushes past it.

“He is terrific in the powerplays, bowls the hardest overs in the powerplay when they are probably looking to go as well.

“But Riley Meredith has been the one I have been impressed with, he has bowled outstanding, he bowled to the short boundary today to two blokes that were in, Maxwell is a world class player, and he held his own.”

George Bailey lofts the ball for six over the long-off boundary. Picture: AAP

While the Hurricanes will enjoy their Christmas ham knowing they remain unbeaten, the Stars return home yet to open their account for the summer.

After recovering from the sluggish start, Maxwell felt his side missed a key opportunity to post a more competitive total when Larkin and himself were upping the tempo.

“We probably missed a key area of the game, I think when myself and Larko were batting really well we put on a nice partnership and we should have been able to back-end it and set ourselves around 170,” Maxwell said.

“Unfortunately losing us both in that little stage … it stunted our momentum and the rest is history.

“They bowled well, I still think we need to be busier and be a bit smarter the way we target certain areas.”

Scott Boland, left, congratulates George Bailey after the Hobart Hurricanes’ victory. Picture: AAP

MEANWHILE, the Hobart women slumped to a fifth consecutive loss in the WBBL to put a serious dent in their finals aspirations.

In increasingly familiar scenes, the Hurricanes started well against the Sydney Thunder at Spotless Stadium, powering to 2-54 after their batting powerplay courtesy of Smriti Mandhana’s 35 from 22 deliveries.

However once fellow top four batters Stefanie Daffara (26 from 21) and Heather Knight (35 from 33) fell there was little support as the visitors were rolled for 135 in the last over.

The Thunder wasted little time mowing down the runs, with Rachel Priest (22 off 11) and Rachael Haynes (68 not out from 48) rattling off a 33-run opening stand inside three overs to set the tone for the six-wicket win.