Running out of puff in Hurricanes chase

A HORROR batting collapse and a sloppy bowling performance have cost Hobart Hurricanes any chance of recording their first WBBL victory.

Chasing Brisbane Heat’s 4-168, propelled by opener Kirby Short’s 55-ball 79 (11 fours), the Hurricanes were in the hunt.

With Indian import Veda Krishnamurthy having her best innings of the tournament, the Hurricanes were at least a chance at 3-104 in the 15th over.

A member of India’s one-day World Cup final team, Krishnamurthy was dropped earlier in the tournament after a lean trot, but gave a glimpse of her class and power at Blundstone Arena.

But when she fell for 33 (off just 20 balls with four fours and a six), the Hurricanes’ run chase ran out of puff.

Her dismissal triggered a stunning collapse of 7-22 in 24 deliveries as Hobart was bowled out for 126 to record its eighth loss in a row.

Despite the losses, coach Julia Price said there were positive signs, her team just needed to put it all together now.

“Absolutely we thought we were definitely in with a chance, she [Krishnumurthy] batted beautifully and it was great cricket, the cricket we want to play constantly.

“We had a little glimpse of what we can do — but still a lot of work to do.”

Six Heat bowlers collected wickets as the team notched back to back wins in Hobart.

The Hurricanes had no answers to Short’s fireworks with the bat as she combined with Delissa Kimmince (43 of 36) for a 99-run stand off only 63 deliveries.

“We let ourselves down with our bowling, we just bowed too short and gave width as well, so it was difficult to set fields to,” Price said.

“We could have kept them to 130 and then we were absolutely in that game.

“We have just got to be more disciplined and we haven’t been at this stage.”

But Price said spirits remained high among the group.