Thunderstorms at Heat-Hurricanes BBL game to cut match short

Thunderstorms have reduced Brisbane Heat’s Big Bash League clash with Hobart Hurricanes to a 19 overs-a-side match on the Gold Coast.

Matthew Wade of the Hurricanes bats during the Brisbane Heat v Hobart Hurricanes Big Bash League Match at Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast. Picture: CHRIS HYDE/GETTY IMAGES

UPDATED: A HALF-CENTURY by D’Arcy Short has helped Hobart Hurricanes to reach 6-159 in their rain-affected Big Bash League clash with Brisbane Heat on the Gold Coast.

A watchful Short hit 67 off 52 balls – his seventh BBL 50 – after the Heat won the toss in a match reduced to 19 overs a side due to thunderstorms and hail.

Short hit four fours and four sixes, sharing a 59-run third-wicket stand with Ben McDermott (25), who was run out yet again.

McDermott was called through for a run by Short but was caught well short by Josh Lalor’s brilliant fielding at short fine leg.

It is the sixth time in 13 innings in all formats that McDermott has been run out, at one stage suffering the fate four times in a row.

Afghan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman (2-23) opened the Heat bowling with a mesmerising spell on a slow Metricon Stadium deck.

Mark Steketee claimed 2-36, shattering Johan Botha’s bat in the final over. The match began 15 minutes late after Gold Coast’s Twenty20 weather curse struck again.

Hail and heavy rain hit the ground an hour before the scheduled 6:00pm start for the first BBL match on the tourist strip.

Light rain also fell throughout the Hurricanes’ innings.

There was a sense of deja vu after last month’s first T20 international at Metricon Stadium was reduced to a 10-overs-a-side fixture when thunderstorms hit moments before the Australia-South Africa game was about to start. Brisbane are out to bounce back from their disappointing five-wicket loss to Adelaide Strikers in their BBL opener, while Hobart are starting their campaign.

EARLIER: THUNDERSTORMS have reduced Brisbane Heat’s Big Bash League clash with Hobart Hurricanes to a 19 overs-a-side match on the Gold Coast.

Brisbane won the toss and sent the Hurricanes in to bat with the clash set to start at 7.15pm.

Gold Coast’s Twenty20 curse struck again with hail hitting Metricon Stadium an hour before the scheduled 7pm start for the first BBL match held on the tourist strip.

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There was a sense of deja vu after last month’s first T20 international at Metricon Stadium was reduced to 10 overs a side fixture after thunderstorms hit moments before the Australia-South Africa game was about to start. Brisbane are out to bounce back from their disappointing five-wicket loss to Adelaide Strikers in their BBL opener on Wednesday night at the Gabba.

Matthew Wade of the Hurricanes and Chris Lynn of the Heat before the Brisbane Heat v Hobart Hurricanes Big Bash League Match at Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast. Picture: CHRIS HYDE/GETTY IMAGES

The Heat’s much-vaunted batting line-up, boasting Australian white-ball star Chris Lynn and former Black Caps inspiration Brendon McCullum, failed to fire. Brisbane at one stage were 9-101 after losing 7-23.

Hobart are opening their BBL campaign with James Faulkner and Johan Botha making their Hurricanes debuts.

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However, the Hurricanes will be without English import, left-arm quick Tymal Mills.

Heat: Brendon McCullum, Max Bryant, Chris Lynn, Joe Burns, Sam Heazlett, James Peirson, Ben Cutting, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mitch Swepson, Josh Lalor, Mark Steketee. 12th man: Brendan Doggett.

Hurricanes: Matthew Wade (capt), D’Arcy Short, Alex Doolan, Ben McDermott, George Bailey, Simon Milenko, James Faulkner, Johan Botha, Jofra Archer, Clive Rose, Riley Meredith. 12th man: Jake Doran.

AAP LC/AJW