Hobart Hurricanes lose to Sydney Thunder in BBL eliminator
Having entered Thursday night’s eliminator riding a three-game winning streak to storm into the top five, Hobart crashed and burned to a third loss from as many home finals.
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THE Hurricanes’ home Big Bash finals curse struck again after they were handed an inglorious exit from the tournament by the Sydney Thunder.
Having entered Thursday night’s eliminator riding a three-game winning streak to storm into the top five, Hobart crashed and burned to a third loss from as many home finals.
After claiming the minor premiership last season the hosts were unable to overcome the Melbourne Stars, while in the inaugural edition of the Big Bash the Sydney Sixers completed a raid at Blundstone Arena.
Last night it was Alex Hales, who has tormented his former side throughout BBL09, who again caught fire as the Thunder piled on their highest score of the tournament of 5-196.
It proved 57 too many for Hobart, who lost last start centurion Matthew Wade in the third over before big guns D’Arcy Short (37), Mac Wright (five) and the retiring George Bailey (13) perished amid a collapse of 3-15 in 13 balls immediately after the powerplay was completed.
Hales — who fired blanks in five innings in purple in BBL|04 for a total of 71 runs — cracked his third half century in as many matches while big game star Usman Khawaja regained his mojo when his side needed it.
Hales scored 60 from 37 balls in the cut throat final to go with scores of 63 (42) and 55 (36) and combined with Khawaja (54 off 34) in a 103-run stand which set the foundation for the mammoth total.
The pair rattled along at more than 10 an over on a sublime batting wicket, crunching 13 boundaries and four sixes between them — including one Hales launched onto the roof of the Ricky Ponting stand from Scott Boland.
Khawaja registered his third half century in as many BBL finals appearances for the Thunder, while skipper Callum Ferguson pitched in a breezy 33 from 22 balls and Alex Ross 21.
Nathan Ellis was the standout bowler for Hobart, taking 1-18 from his four overs while not conceding a single boundary.
Import Qais Ahmad (0-30 from three) went wicketless for the third straight match while James Faulkner, Clive Rose and Scott Boland finished with 1-39 apiece from 11 combined overs.
Coming off their record breaking 203-run stand against Adelaide, Wade and Short were unable to carry the momentum as Wade skied a slog sweep from Jonathan Cook on 14.
Short, who has so often rescued the Hurricanes, looked in sublime touch until Cook struck again when a leading edge ballooned to cover before Wright bunted a catch to mid off next over.
In the final innings of his illustrious career before becoming a national selector, Bailey clubbed three quick boundaries only to then pull a short ball to mid wicket where substitute Chris Green took a diving catch.
The final nail in the coffin was delivered when Ben McDermott miscued a slog in the 15th over with the asking rate rapidly climbing.
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