Hurricanes have a mountain to climb

THE Hurricanes need to discover winning form on Wednesday to have any chance of making the WBBL finals after going down to Adelaide by 64 runs.

Hobart must win its three remaining matches and have results go its way in order to make finals after managing just 77 from 16.4 overs chasing the Strikers’ 6/ 141.

The Hurricanes had Adelaide where they wanted them a 5/ 65 when Madeline Penna came to the wicket and 6/ 72 not long after.

Penna then went to work, rescuing the Strikers’ innings with an unbeaten 56 ( 33) including six fours and two sixes.

The 20- year- old went to work in the final over against Australian bowler Nicola Carey, belting two fours and two sixes.

“It was go big or go home, I was looking for the boundaries at the right moment,” Penna said.

16- year- old Amy Smith was the best of the Canes bowlers, with an efficient 1/ 19, while Carey ( 2/ 44 from 4 overs) and Brooke Hepburn ( 2/ 32 from 3) both grabbed multiple wickets.

Chloe Tyron top- scored for Hobart with a run- a- ball 17 but the steady fall of wickets meant the Hurricanes never got in the hunt.

Hobart’s Hayley Matthews said the wicket played better than the scores suggested.

“We started with the ball really well, going into the last five overs we had them really good,” the Barbados allrounder said.

“Penna played a really good innings there at the end in order to get them to that total. We let them get away from us.”

The win moves Adelaide ( 5- 5) to third spot on the table and Hobart ( 3- 6) to seventh.

The Canes take on Melbourne Stars at Hurstville Oval on Wednesday, before closing out the season with a doubleheader at the weekend.