High fives for Hurricanes
Five in a row as Hobart makes Short shrift of the Heat
TASMANIANS have flocked back to the Big Bash to see the Hurricanes secure a fifth straight win in their final home game of the season.
After soft crowds for the first three games, 14,873 people packed Blundstone Arena to see Hobart record a six-wicket win over the Brisbane Heat.
The Hurricanes are now right in finals contention.
Cricket Tasmania chief executive Nick Cummins said the Hurricanes were already looking at securing star import Jofra Archer again.
Archer, who had expressed his desire to return to Hobart, was on a one-year deal as a last-minute replacement for Tom Curran after the latter was called up into England’s Ashes squad.
The West Indian-born Englishman had become a cult hero with his express bowling and laid-back attitude. He took 2-32 off four overs last night.
“Definitely, at least next season,” Mr Cummins said of Archer’s return. “I think he and Rashid Khan have been the best overseas players [in the Big Bash]. We had a crack at Rashid as well but missed out on him.
“Jofra has done really well and he’ll only get better.”
Barring a home final, last night marked the end of Hobart’s Big Bash games, with attention soon to turn to Tasmania’s only international fixture of the summer, the Australia v England T20 game at Blundstone Arena on February 7. It is likely Hurricanes star D’Arcy Short and Test gloveman Tim Paine will be in the Australian line up.
Mr Cummins said sales for the game had been solid without being spectacular.
IT was one for the record books at Blundstone Arena last night as D’Arcy Short became the most prolific batsman in a Big Bash season and the Hobart Hurricanes stretched their winning streak to a club-best five in a row to claim third on the BBL ladder.
The hottest property in the Big Bash this summer, it took Short two overs to become the highest-scoring batsman in a single season.
The game the 27-year-old lefthander from Katherine, NT, needed only seven runs to claim the mantle.
He needed to give coach Gary Kirsten a reason to smile, after he almost broke the Hurricanes coach’s jaw doing “throw downs” in the nets preparing for the match, watched by 14,873.
A four backward of square to end the second over of the Canes’ runchase moved Short past the previous best of 412 set by Shaun Marsh in the 2012-13 Big Bash.
The only BBL batter to hit two scores in the 90s, he also holds the record for the most fours in a single BBL summer, moving on to 62 after last night’s knock of 59 off 49.
“Sometimes it feels like I can’t get out, but I don’t want to get complacent,” Short said.
As for national selection, he said: “I’d be over the moon.”
The Hurricanes had won their previous four games batting first, successfully defending targets of 189, 183, 170 and 179.
Brisbane was awake to that, so when it won the toss chose to bat.
With no sign of the animosity that marred their last meeting at the Gabba, Heat skipper Brendon McCullum belted a half century as the backbone of its 8-165.
Brisbane’s Captain Courageous smashed 51 from 38 to top score, involved in a 59-run stand with Joe Burns (38 from 24), but the Hurricanes suffocated the Heat in the run home.
Brisbane usually scores at a competition-best 10.25 runs an over in its last four, but the Canes restricted it to 7.25 runs for the last eight, with Canes allrounder Dan Christian finishing with 1-12 from his two overs at the death
Alex Doolan was straight down to business, smacking Joe Burns for 10 off the first four balls and a misshit had him gone on the fifth ball.
After four consecutive fizzers, skipper George Bailey promoted himself to No.3 and produced 19 off 23 and for the fifth innings in a row skyed a ball and was easily caught.
Christian was also part of the shuffle, coming in next for a good time and a short time, blasting 23 off nine.
McDermott (32 off 19) and Matthew Wade (11 off 9) steered the Cane train home for a six-wicket win with 10 balls to spare.
The Hurricanes play the secondplaced Strikers in Adelaide tomorrow night.