Big Bash Daily: Hobart win thriller and Mujeeb takes five

Hobart Hurricanes edged Brisbane Heat in a final ball thriller at the Gabba...

Hobart end the year on a high

Hobart Hurricanes are sitting pretty on the Big Bash ladder, in third place after six matches, only one point behind leaders, Sydney Sixers.

This comes after their dramatic one-run win over Brisbane Heat at the Gabba. 

In the first innings, the world’s number one T20 batsman, Dawid Malan (39), and Tim David (36) helped Hurricanes reach 150 all out with two balls unused.

Riley Meredith proved too hot to handle in the chase as the paceman took 3-21 in his four overs.

So near, yet so far for Brisbane 

The second win of Brisbane’s Big Bash campaign eluded them in a final ball thriller at the Gabba. 

After being 8 for 3, it looked like it was going to be a tough ask for the hosts to pull through and clinch the victory…

Max Bryant (32) and Lewis Gregory (29) put their side in with a shout. However, it was James Bazeley batting at seven that brought his side within a single run. The 25-year-old, who was playing only his second match of the season, struck an unbeaten 49 but it was all in vain.

_{Lewis Gregory fired 29 to give Brisbane a chance of winning}

Mujeeb puts Hobart in a spin

Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman claimed figures of 5-15 in his four overs and was the main force in their effort of bowling Hobart out for 150.

Rahman picked up the scalps of Ben McDermott, Keemo Paul and Malan before polishing off the tail. He bowled 14 dot balls in his allocation.

Xavier Bartlett took two wickets – including that of D’Arcy Short with the second ball of the match. There was a wicket each for Jack Wildermuth and Mark Steketee, who finished off the innings after 19.4 overs.

England and Somerset allrounder Gregory was very expensive, conceding 38 runs off three overs at a rate of 12.67.

_{Xavier Bartlett took two wickets as Hobart Hurricanes were all out for 150}

What’s next?

New Year’s Eve sees Adelaide Strikers take on Perth Scorchers at the Adelaide Oval.

Strikers won the previous meeting on December 28 by 72 runs after dismissing their opponents for 94 as Perth became the latest side to be dismissed for less than 100.

That defeat wasn’t exactly what England’s Jason Roy and Liam Livingstone would’ve been after in what was their first match of the tournament after quarantining following international duty in South Africa.

Perth will be looking to register their first victory of the season and use that as a springboard to make a late charge in 2021.

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