BBL 2017-18, Match 21, Review: Hobart Hurricanes pip Sixers in last ball thriller

The BBL 2017-18 is inching towards the business end and the teams in the bottom half of the points table are itching for the wins. In the match 21 of the season, two among the three bottom placed sides – Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Sixers – locked horns in their desperate times. While Hobart was just a win away from moving among the top sides, the Sixers still searched for their first win of the season.

Amidst this backdrop, the two sides faced off at the Bellerive Oval, Hobart. Coming to the proceedings, the Hobart Hurricanes skipper George Bailey won the toss and had no hesitation in opting to bat first. D’Arcy Short and Alex Doolan arrived at the crease to start the proceedings for the Hurricanes as Ben Dwarshuis shared the new ball with Jackson Bird. Dwarshuis struck in the very second over of the game to dismiss Doolan for 3.

In walked Matthew Wade at number 3. Needless to concede, the underfire veteran wicketkeeper-batsman had a lot to prove in the game. Wade and Short then steadied the ship for the home side. The two batsmen rallied along to stitch a 77 run stand for the second wicket that came off 57 deliveries. The Sixers’ skipper Johan Botha brought back Jackson Bird in to the attack and the fiery pacer responded well. Bird accounted for the dismissal of Wade in the 11th over.

Wade scored 41 off 30 deliveries with 5 fours and a six to his name. In the very next over, Sean Abbott sent Short packing on 42 that came off 36 deliveries with 3 fours and a couple of sixes. Ben McDermott and George Bailey found themselves at the crease with the task of rebuilding the knock from 88/3 in 11.4 overs. Certainly, they needed to up the ante.

Bailey perished for 11 and McDermott could only add a run-a-ball 19. Abbott accounted for both the dismissals. Some late hitting from Daniel Christian and Simon Milenko gave the impetus to the Hurricanes’ innings. While Milenko scored 22 off 10 balls with 3 fours and a six, Christian remained unbeaten on 14-ball 28 with five boundaries. The Hobart Hurricanes finished with 170/6 in their stipulated 20 overs. Abbott was the pick of the bowlers for Sydney Sixers with 2/27 to his name.

And the run chase

The run chase was never going to be easy but the greed of notching up the first win on the board was immense for Sydney Sixers. Jason Roy and Daniel Hughes opened the innings for the Sixers. Roy gave bright hopes with a six straightaway. However, Clive Rose sent him packing in the second over on 9. Nic Maddinson (7) was sent back to the dug out cheaply by Tymal Mills.

Jordan Silk and Daniel Hughes then showed some courage to stay afloat in the competition. Much to their disappointment, they could not pick up pace whilst attempting to do so. Hughes struggled for 35 balls to earn his 33 runs with just 3 boundaries. Dan Christian got rid of him in the 10th over.

Sam Billings then joined Silk at the crease. Billing looked calm at the onset but soon picked up pace. Meanwhile, Silk continued to nudge the ball around to keep the scorecard ticking. The match, however, seemed to move away from the reach of the Sixers. Billings gave them hope by clobbering three fours on the final three deliveries of the 18th over.

Tymal Mills came back to the attack and dismissed Silk on 45 that came off 37 deliveries with 2 fours and as many number of sixes. Billings was the lone ranger but had a little too much in hand to accomplish. Needing 22 off the final over, Sydney Sixers saw themselves scoring just 4 off the first three balls. 18 runs were needed off the last three deliveries.

Sam Billings hit two mammoth sixes off the bowling of Tymal Mills to do the unthinkable. Another six was all that the Sixers needed to register their first win. But Billings ended up failing to connect the final one. He remained unbeaten on 61 off 31 balls as Hobart Hurricanes won by 5 runs.

Brief Scores:

Hobart Hurricanes 170/6 in 20 overs (Short 42, Wade 41, Abbott 3/27, Dwarshuis 1/30)

Sydney Sixers 165/4 in 20 overs (Billings 61*, Silk 45, Mills 2/42, Rose 1/22)

Catch more developments and latest cricket news about the BBL 2017-18 on CricTracker.