Hobart Hurricanes defeated Brisbane Heat in a low-scoring thriller by two runs at Aurora Stadium in Launceston on Wednesday, January 25, to stay alive in the BBL 2023 finals race. Brisbane won the toss and invited Hobart to put runs on the scoreboard. But, it was a splendid bowling performance from Brisbane as they restricted the Hurricanes to just 120.
Their innings never really took off as Caleb Jewell got out early in the third over after scoring only 17 runs. His partner Zak Crawley followed him to the dressing room shortly after him as he got clean bowled on the score of just 3 runs. Three spinners applied the squeeze on, as the scoring rate never really got past six at any stage of the innings.
Ben McDermott was the only batter who scored some runs as he got to his half-century but scored 56 runs off 56 deliveries and never showed the intent to hit. Skipper Matthew Wade and Joel Paris were then claimed by the power surge, as Michael Neser and Spenser Johnson returned to claim a few wickets. The former ended as the pick of the bowlers, finishing with figures of 4/35.
Brilliant bowling performance by Hobart’s bowlers
Chasing a small target of just 121 runs, Brisbane started really bad as they lost their first 4 batters on the score of just 30 runs. However, Sam Hain and Jimmy Peirson took the responsibility later and put up a great 73-run stand for the 5th wicket. The Heat were strolling along and 102 for 4 after 16 overs, needing only 19 from the last 4 overs, they had everything on their plate.
As they were reached close to the doors of victory, they lost both batters. Faheem Ashraf struck in the 17th over as he dismissed Hain, Nathan Ellis came to bowl the 18th over and removed the set batter, Peirson. Tim David held his nerve well to defend the score in the final over and he helped the team to win the match by the margin of just 2 runs. He took Hurricanes to the fifth spot with 13 points while denying Heat the chance to secure the hosting rights to the Eliminator with a third-place finish.
Here’s how fans reacted:
What about the 6 of Tim David not being called a No Ball the Heat batsman played it at Chest height.
Should of been another 1 to the score and rebowled.— Owen Davies (@OwenDav06192947) January 25, 2023
Amazing !
— Peter Welch (@allaspectGD) January 25, 2023
No way! 🤣
— Piedude (@piedudeaus) January 25, 2023
Absolute steal
— Parma… (@im_parma) January 25, 2023
What a win that was. Wickets in hand just 10 needed from 12 balls and still they won 👏👏🏆.
— SnEhA KuMaR ReDdY (@snehakumarreddy) January 25, 2023
Where was the No ball for the full toss?
— BillyBuckets (@BillyBuckets97) January 25, 2023
The fact that both those teams possibly are in the finals is worrying lmao 🤣
— THE JUICEEE 💉💉 (@Kylewok_) January 25, 2023
No ball not given on six
— Amit (@kaleboyy) January 25, 2023
Heat with the biggest choke
— CryptoCashew.nft 🆙 (@CryptoCash212) January 25, 2023
