Match 38, Melbourne, January 15, 2024, 01:45 PM
Hobart Hurricanes
187/8(20.0ov)
Melbourne Stars
180/4(20.0ov)
Hobart Hurricanes beat Melbourne Stars by 7 runs
Right then the season for these two sides ended with Hobart Hurricanes closing the season with a victory while Melbourne Stars were defeated again. The action continues from the ongoing BBL with the Perth Scorchers taking on Sydney Sixers in a clash that would dictate the second spot on the table. The game will be live tomorrow from 2.10 pm IST (8.40 am GMT) but you can join us an hour early for the build-up. Till then cheers!
Earlier in the day, after being put in to bat first on a placid flat track the Hurricanes of Hobart started tremendously with their best opening partnership of the tournament so far as the duo of Ben McDermott and Matthew Wade added 86 runs together. The same old pattern followed where the side lost way too many in the middle phase and kept on losing wickets regularly. Matthew Wade was the top scorer for them with 63 to his name while Ben McDermott scored a half-century as well. The bowling from the Stars was good a bit sluggish to start with but they pulled things back well keeping the total in check. Dan Lawrence was the pick of the bowlers with his off-spinners as he picked up 4 while Nathan Coulter-Nile and Imad Wasim picked a couple.
Nathan Ellis is the player of the match for his brilliance with the bat scoring 16 off 5 and picking up 2 wickets giving away just 29. He is up for a quick chat and says he's been a bit of hit-and-miss with the bat throughout but feels good to hit some boundaries today. Adds that the wicket was good and the players put in a brilliant performance but credit to Stars that despite being out of the tournament they still fought till the end. Mentions that he feels a bit emotional to not progress as they have got a good side ad would like to rattle a few moments from the season.
The bowlers of the Hobart Hurricanes stuck to the plans they had and bowled superbly and never let the Stars go ahead of them throughout the game. Nathan Coulter-Nile was the pick of the bowlers as he picked up 2 while Chris Jordan and Riley Meredith took a wicket each. The season ends on a high for Hobart Hurricanes but a lot to reflect on for both these sides.
Chasing down a good total, the innings of Melbourne Stars started a bit off the mark as they lost 2 wickets in a jiffy at the score of 31. Glenn Maxwell landed a few lusty blows but was soon removed on 32 by Nathan Ellis. It was then a solid partnership of 80 for the fourth wicket between Marcus Stoinis and Beau Webster that kept them in it for a while but a brilliant spell of last few overs helped the Hurricanes and saw them over the line. Beau Webster and Marcus Stoinis batted well as they scored 55 and 48 respectively but this was not enough for them.
A late surge from skipper Nathan Ellis to end their innings with the bat probably helped the Hobart Hurricanes win this one as the Stars fell short by 7 runs.
In over# 20
6
0
1
6
2
1
Peter Hatzoglou 46/0(4)
19.6
6
SIX! Beau Webster closes the game with a maximum down the ground for his half-century but in a losing cause. Tosses it up around off, Beau Webster shuffles to his leg and smashes it towards the sight screen for a maximum. Hobart Hurricanes wins this by 7 runs.
19.5
.
Fuller one angling down leg, Beau Webster looks for the slog but misses out as Matthew Wade collects it.
19.4
1
OH NO Hilton Cartwright MISSES OUT! SHort and wide around off, Hilton Cartwright looks for the hard swing again but rolls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.
19.3
6
SIX! A GLIMMER OF HOPE AS Hilton Cartwright HAMMERS ONE! Tossed up in middle, Hilton Cartwright moves to his leg and swings hard connecting well to launch this out of the park towards cow corner.
19.2
2
Quicker and flatter on off, Hilton Cartwright squeezes it to deep square leg and takes a couple.
19.1
1
Fuller on off, Beau Webster looks for the big heave but miscues it off the toe end to square leg for a single.
Peter Hatzoglou will bowl the final over needing to defend 24. Only 4 fielders are allowed outside the circle.
In over# 19
2
1
1
1
1
0
1wd
1wd
Nathan Ellis 29/2(4)
18.6
2
Low full toss on off. Hilton Cartwright drives it from the lower part of his willow towards the long on and gets back for the second.
18.5
1
Fuller delivery and well outside off. Beau Webster drills it to the extra cover for one. But again singles and doubles won't help them to win this game. The batters have to go big.
18.4
1
Overpitched, outside off. Hilton Cartwright drills it towards the long off for a run.
18.3
1
Much fuller wide outside off. Beau Webster leans low to loft it over the cover region but gets an inside edge and the ball rolls towards long on.