Hobart’s top order batting fragilities exposed again in fifth straight loss to end tournament

The Hurricanes have finished with their third WBBL wooden spoon in four seasons after an all too familiar scene at Drummoyne Oval consigned the side to another defeat.

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HOBART’S WBBL season has finished how it started — a top order blowout and limited contributions from senior players to lead the recovery.

The Hurricanes were put out of their misery with a third wooden spoon from the past four tournaments following a six wicket loss to the Sydney Thunder, who were only set a 116 run target thanks to an early blitz from strike bowler Shabnim Ismail.

Shabnim Ismail of the Thunder bowls during the Women's Big Bash League WBBL match between the Sydney Thunder and the Hobart Hurricanes at Drummoyne Oval. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Ismail (3-10) removed Nicola Carey for a golden duck and Hayley Matthews for a fourth-ball duck to leave Hobart reeling at 2-2 at the end of the first over, then added Chloe Tryon in her second as the Canes slumped to 3-4.

It was similar to the side’s opening match of the tournament, when Adelaide’s Megan Schutt bowled Rachel Priest and Matthews with the first two legitimate deliveries of the contest and Nicola Carey followed in the second over.

Hayley Matthews of the Hurricanes is bowled by Shabnim Ismail of the Thunder. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Priest — who will win the side’s MVP by the length of the Flemington Racecourse straight — scored a subdued 32, Sasha Moloney top scored with 39 while Corinne Hall, batting at eight, was the only other Hurricane to reach double figures with 24 not out.

The Thunder were barely troubled in the chase, overhauling the total with 19 balls spare.

It consigned Hobart to a fifth consecutive defeat to finish the tournament and left coach Salliann Briggs with more questions than answers.

“Obviously you can’t win games only posting 115 so we have a bit of work to do from now until we get until the WNCL,” Briggs said.

“I am pretty disappointed to be honest in how we have played from a batting point of view, I don’t think it is a true reflection of the quality we have got in this team but the key thing between us and other teams is those senior players standing up.

Rachel Priest was Hobart’s only batter to show any consistency during the WBBL. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

“We have to find ways to give our players the confidence to go out there and play confidently, aggressively and want to dominate.

“I don’t think the hub is suited to everyone … but we can’t use that as an excuse.

“If you look at our performances over the three years we have seen too many repeated errors from those key people unfortunately.

“We have to work a bit harder, I feel responsible for the way the team is playing so we have to keep reviewing and looking at how we can do things better.”

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