BBL 2016-17, Match 18 Review: Ben Dunk, Chris Jordan powers Adelaide Strikers to comprehensive win

The Adelaide Strikers put up a comprehensive performance against the Hobart Hurricanes in the 18th match of BBL 6 by defeating them comprehensively by 5 wickets to remain alive in the competition. Ben Dunk who impressed with an 85 earlier in the competition did his reputation no harm by playing a scintillating innings of 79 while chasing a target of 164. Chris Jordan was the most successful bowler as far as the Adelaide Strikers were concerned and returned with impressive figures of 3/24 in his allotted 4 overs. He was also the batsman who hit the winning runs in the 19th over to hand them a victory.

Winning the toss, Adelaide Strikers captain Brad Hodge asked the Hobart Hurricanes to bat. The visitors got off to the worst possible start and lost their top 3 within the batting powerplay. D’Arcy Short who was scintillating with his strokeplay during his debut match in the Big Bash failed to make an impact and was dismissed by Travis Head in the 2nd over. As he went for a wild slog it took the inside part of the bat and was safely pouched by Jake Weatherald stationed at mid-on. Tim Paine was dismissed in the 4th over followed by the dismissal of Kumar Sangakkara and Dan Christian in the very next over. George Bailey was soon to follow as the visitors were tottering at 30/5 in the 6th over.

The Hurricanes made a terrific comeback post their disastrous collapse and courtesy half-centuries from Jonathan Wells and Beau Webster they managed to shrug off the collapse and post a competitive 161 in their allotted 20 overs. While Jonathan Wells was dismissed on 55, Beau Webster remained unbeaten on a well-made 67 of 43 balls. Wells’ innings was constructed with 2 hits to the fence and 3 maximum where Webster’s innings contained 6 boundaries and a solitary maximum.

Chasing a modest 162 to win, The Adelaide Strikers received an early setback in the form of Jake Weatherald as the opener was dismissed by Dan Christian in the 3rd over of the innings. The ball moved just a bit and hit the timbers as Weatherald went for an expansive heave. Travis Head joined Ben Dunk in the middle and before the duo set the innings ablaze, the hard-hitting head gave away his wicket in the 5th over of the bowling off Hamish Kingston. Veteran batsman and captain of the Adelaide Strikers Brad Hodge joined Hodge in the middle and the whole complexion of the game changed.

Also read: Twitter Reactions: Ben Dunk leads the Strikers to an impressive win over Hurricanes

Both the batsmen played with intent but didn’t take too many risks. After settling down Hodge struck Kingston for two sixes and a four in the 11th over to bring down the calculation to a manageable degree. Dunk too joined in the act and struck D’Arcy Short for a six and a four in the very next over. Hodge was eventually dismissed by Stuart Broad in 13th over. It was a short of length delivery and Hodge wanted to guide it towards the 3rd man region. The deflection was much finer that Hodge’s liking and it was safely caught by Tim Paine behind the stumps.

Kieron Pollard joined Dunk in the middle but failed to make an impact and was dismissed cheaply in the very next over after hitting three crisp boundaries. Jonathan Dean too fell in the next over to make things complicated but the required rate was manageable and Dunk remained calm and composed to finish off the match with 10 balls to spare. Daniel Christian was the star performer for the Hurricanes with the ball and finished with 2/24 in 4 overs.

Brief Scores

Hobart Hurricanes 161/8 in 20 overs (Beau Webster 67*, Chris Jordan 3/24)

Adelaide Strikers 164/5 in 18.2 overs (Ben Dunk 79, Dan Christian 2/24)

Adelaide Strikers won by 5 wickets (with 10 balls remaining)