ON THE CHARGE

Finals beckoning for Hurricanes

WIN and they are in – it is as simple as that for the Hobart Hurricanes and their quest for a third straight Big Bash League finals appearance.

And Hurricanes captain Matthew Wade believes his side can do much more than just make the finals following their impressive victory over the Sixers on Sunday night.

He believes this side can take out Hobart’s first BBL title, especially with the form of Nepalese leg spinner Sandeep Lamichhane, who took 2-24 in the seven-run win over the Sixers.

“We’ve got the team to do it,” Wade said. “We’ve got a really good local fast bowling attack. And Sandeep’s bowling so well at the moment. To have a leg spinner that can do what he did was huge for us.”

With a win today and results going their way, they could finish as high as third and even with a loss to the lastplaced Renegades, they could still sneak into the final five if both the Heat and the Stars lose to the Scorchers and Sixers respectively today, the last day of the regular season.

The Hurricanes can even guarantee their spot in the finals without obtaining the Bash Boost point for being in front halfway through the second innings, as long as they defeat the Renegades.

The Renegades are locked in last place with just three wins, but Hurricanes coach Adam Griffith was wary of an opponent with nothing to play for.

“We understand they will go into this game relaxed and just play,” Griffith said.

“We really need to be on top of our game and if we can do that, that will give us a good chance to win.”

The Hurricanes pulled a surprise by naming power hitter Tim David – previously Hobart’s second highest runscorer – to the X-factor position in the win over the Sixers, but Griffith said this was just a tactical ploy and he was always going to come into the team during the game – it was just a question of for who.

Griffith said at this stage it was understood outside the Sydney teams, any side that earned a right to host a final would do so, meaning a fourthplace finish or better would see the Hurricanes return to Blundstone Arena for a final.

“That’s what we are hearing but it has changed frequently,” he said. “I hope that is the case and even if we don’t get one, we hope the team that’s earned one gets one for the integrity of the competition.”

Today’s game against the Renegades at the MCG starts at 3.50pm.