Hurricanes Hold Their Nerve to Edge Thunder in Big Bash Thriller
So, this Big Bash League season has kicked off with exactly the kind of drama fans were hoping for, and it didn’t take long for the defending champions to remind everyone why they lifted the trophy last year. The Hobart Hurricanes opened their title defence with a heart-stopping four-wicket win over the Sydney Thunder, getting the job done with just one ball left in a tense re-match of last season’s final.
The chase looked under control early on, thanks to some confident hitting at the top. Nikhil Chaudhary set the tone with a fluent 41 off 31 balls, while Ben McDermott chipped in with a brisk 38 from 24. Mitchell Owen then added instant fireworks, smashing 32 from just 14 deliveries, and for a moment it felt like Hobart might cruise home. But as often happens in T20 cricket, momentum shifted quickly. A cluster of wickets fell, pressure crept in, and suddenly the finish became anything but comfortable.
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By the time Matthew Wade was dismissed in the second-last over, the Hurricanes were staring at a nervy finale, needing four runs from the final six balls. What followed was pure Big Bash chaos. Daniel Sams opened the last over with a costly no-ball that flew through to the keeper on the full, instantly levelling the scores. Then came three dot balls in a row, including a bouncer that looked well above head height on replay, cranking the tension even higher.
With the game on a knife edge, it was Nathan Ellis who kept his composure. A clean, straight drive pierced the field and finally sealed the win, sparking relief and celebration at Ninja Stadium. He finished the job alongside Chris Jordan, who had already played a huge role earlier in the night. Jordan was deservedly named player of the match after an unbeaten 16 with the bat and two vital wickets that broke the Thunder’s momentum in the middle overs.
Earlier, Sydney Thunder had posted a competitive 6 for 180 after being sent in. Cameron Bancroft anchored the innings with a steady 61 from 44 balls, while Shadab Khan and Sams provided late acceleration. The Thunder started fast, racing to 46 in the powerplay, but Hobart’s bowlers gradually pulled things back. Billy Stanlake’s 3 for 34 proved crucial, and Jordan’s double strike in the 10th over swung the momentum.
Sydney were missing David Warner through injury, and there are now some fitness concerns around young Sam Konstas, but despite those absences, this felt like a statement win for Hobart. It wasn’t perfect, it certainly wasn’t easy, but the Hurricanes showed composure under pressure. For a title defence, that kind of gritty, last-ball victory might be the perfect way to begin.
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