Hobart Hurricanes posted a competitive 5-114 from their 10 overs in a rain-reduced KFC BBL|15 Knockout match, with Test allrounder Beau Webster leading the charge with 47 from 26 balls. The result sets up an intriguing chase for the Melbourne Stars, who need 115 in 10 overs to keep their season alive.
The match, delayed by 90 minutes due to weather, finally got underway at 9.05pm, with Stars captain Marcus Stoinis opting to bowl first. The decision paid off immediately as Glenn Maxwell had the dangerous Mitchell Owen stumped in the very first over.
Hurricanes stand-in captain Ben McDermott, filling in for Nathan Ellis who missed the match with a minor hamstring issue, had a brief stay at the crease, departing for 12 from seven balls after being trapped in front by a Stoinis slower delivery.
Nikhil Chaudhary provided a late boost for the Hurricanes, capitalising on a dropped catch by Tom Curran off Haris Rauf to smash two boundaries over the leg side. Though Chaudhary fell the very next ball for 24 from 11, the innings had already gained momentum. The penultimate over went for 18 runs, before Webster added a final flourish, launching three consecutive sixes off Curran in the last over to ensure the Hurricanes finished strongly.
Rauf was the pick of the Stars’ bowlers, taking 2-27 from his two overs, though his efforts proved costly at times. Stoinis and Maxwell bowled economically, claiming a wicket each while conceding few runs, and Mitch Swepson impressed in challenging wet conditions, giving away just 12 runs from his two overs.
The Hurricanes made two changes to their side for the Knockout, with Ellis sidelined through injury and English allrounder Rehan Ahmed absent due to national duties. Speedsters Billy Stanlake and Will Prestwidge were drafted into the XI, while the Stars went unchanged.
The winner of tonight’s match will face Sydney Sixers at the SCG on Friday, January 23, with a place in the BBL|15 Final against Perth Scorchers at stake on Sunday, January 25. A reserve day is scheduled for Monday, January 26, should the final need to be postponed.
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