BBL 2016/17, Match 4 Review: Hurricanes register a comfortable win

Spectacular batting show from openers Tim Paine and D’Arcy Short and collective efforts from the bowlers saw Hobart Hurricanes defeat Sydney Sixer by 60 runs in the 4th match of the Big Bash League 2016/17. In a match which was sort of a lop-sided affair, the Hurricanes faced little problems in suppressing Sixers who after being set a target of challenging 201 runs could manage just 140 all out in response.

The Sixers started off as the favourites to win the match, especially after their thunderous show against their rivals Sydney Thunder. Unfortunately, there failed together to emulate the dominating performances with which they began the tournament.

Chasing anything in excess of 180 requires at least one big stand and the Sixers could not do that. In fact, they never looked they could do it at any stage. Barring the English duo of opener Jason Roy (40 from 22 balls) and Sam Billings (42 from 33 balls) none of the batsmen cared to stay at the crease for a prolonged time.

The 4th over saw opener Jordon Silk and last match’s hero, skipper Moises Henriques departing for 7 and a duck respectively leaving the chasing side at 3/2. They never recovered full from the early loss and kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Haddin ended up having a bad day and was dismissed after a good start for just 10.

Unluckily, by the time Billings came in, Roy lost his wicket. The lower middle order looked incompetent and it by the time the chase reached its half-way stage, the match already out of their favour. Shaun Tait and Hamish Kingston ensured there was no fightback from the batting side and cleaned up the tail before they could start wagging.

The decision to bowl first turned out to be horrible as the Hurricanes openers, wicket-keeper Tim Paine and D’Arcy Short kicked off the proceedings in style. It took them no time to take off. The silent first over by Botha, which yielded only four was just a bluff if the Hurricanes fans though that their bowlers would have a great day.

In the following over Short hammered three fours and a six off Dwarshius bowling and then targeted Meanie smashing him for a couple of sixes and fours each to announce his team’s arrival. Paine played the role of the supporting cast as the duo stitched together took their team past the 50 run mark in just 401 over before going on to make a 81 runs stand for the opening wicket. Short, batting at a strike of 210, was a real joy to watch but was unfortunately the first wicket to fall when Bollinger got him caught at Roy in the 9th over.

The Hurricanes, unfortunately, could have another big stand and Paine was left do the bulk of the scoring with other only able to make cameo appearances. Middle order men – Kumar Sangakkara and George Bailey – could make any difference which saw the momentum hurt a little. Paine stepped on the accelerator towards the end and with the help of Daniel Christian’s 20 off 12 deliveries and HP Kingston’s 12 from 6 balls took the overall total to 200/6 at the end of the 20 overs.

Watch: Shaun Tait destroys Sam Billings’ middle stump

We’ve got a delay here after The Wild Thing absolutely destroyed middle stump! #BBL06 pic.twitter.com/HklTPxPNJG

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 23, 2016

Brief Scores: 

Hobart Hurricanes: 200/6 in 20 overs (Tim Paine 63; Sean Abbott 2/41)

Sydney Sixers: 140 in 16.2 overs (Sam Billings 42; Shaun Tait 3/32)

Man of the Match: D’Arcy Short