Hurricanes swirl to top of table with comfortable thumping of timid Thunder

Opting to bowl first, Hobart Hurricanes began with some stellar new ball spells from Riley Meredith, Billy Stanlake, and Nathan Ellis to strangle Sydney Thunder openers David Warner and Sam Konstas. The latter eventually buckled under the heat and top-edged a Meredith bouncer to leave the team reeling at 22/1 at the end of the powerplay. Chris Jordan added to the visitors’ woes by dispatching Matthew Gilkes for cheap and while Warner kept ticking along at the other end, his risk-free brand of cricket ensured the run rate was well within control for the hosts. Together with Oliver Davies, the skipper stitched together a tepid 40-run stand before an excellent change in pace from Stanlake got rid of the right-hander for a run-a-ball 17 and the score a subpar 82/3. New batter Sam Billings thus took it upon himself to up the ante, even as Warner brought up a 46-ball half-century, and the Englishman struck four handsome boundaries in his 15-ball cameo of 28 but couldn’t survive up until the Power Surge taken in the 17th over. Albeit a relatively paltry 23 runs came off the two overs, a 17-run final over from Ellis courtesy of some intent from Warner took the team to a competitive 164, with the skipper unbeaten on 88.

In response, Mitchell Owen and Matthew Wade got the Hurricanes off to a flying start as three sixes and a boundary had come within the first nine balls of their chase. However, the momentum was cut short when George Garton’s wily change of place trapped Wade plumb before Owen chipped a Wes Agar delivery straight to mid-off four deliveries later. Nevertheless, Nikhil Chaudhary and Charles Wakim kept the impetus going with three boundaries in the final over of the powerplay taking the score to a handsome 50/2. Warner countered by bringing on his spinners and the tactic instantly worked as two quiet overs culminated in Wakim getting LBW’d while attempting a slog sweep, bringing Tim David into the centre as early as the seventh over in lieu of Ben McDermott who injured his hamstring while fielding. Even though the spinners continued to keep things tight, a Dan Christian over in between was all Hobart needed as they accrued 17 runs off it and by the time Garton got rid of Nikhil Chaudhary for a 23-ball 28, the equation read 58 off seven overs and the ensuing Power Surge effectively killed the game. Agar was entrusted with the responsibility of kicking off the phase and was duly punished for 17 runs before Mohammed Hasnain conceded 21 to leave the Hurricanes needing just 20 in the final five overs. It was a mere formality thereon as David cruised through to the end in style with two maximums, taking Hobart to the top of the table.