hobart storm 120 for 9 (Wright 56, Neser 4-35) Brisbane Heat 8 for 118 (Pearson 39) by two runs
Meanwhile, The Heat were knocked out of the knockout final and were eliminated in the Eliminator after chasing down 121 runs. On a two-pace surface which proved difficult to bat on, they were dismissed for 103 for 4 in the 17th over. ,
But they faltered and it came down to a dramatic last over where the Heat needed 10 runs to finish third and a home knockout final. David did a lot against James Bazley but the Hurricanes knew they needed one more result to go their way. And in the end, it didn’t happen.
Meredith and Alice act before David’s late heroism
The Hurricanes’ finals chances were nearly dead and their hopes rested with star quicks Riley Meredith and Nathan Ellis.
They threatened in early bursts with Meredith removing Usman Khawaja and then Ellis knocked over Marnus Labuschagne’s off stump with a gem of a delivery to revive the storm.
The storm suddenly hit the box seat as the Heat lost wickets in successive balls in the sixth over when Matthew Renshaw was run out by Zak Crawley’s brilliant gatherer and direct throw.
After Meredith’s opening spell of three overs, the Hurricanes were not as threatening and clearly missed left-arm spinner Paddy Dooley, who had a breakout season but missed out with a groin injury.
After dismissing their frontliners, the Hurricanes’ fortunes rested on David and he delivered the perfect full delivery to trouble Beasley. He helped run out non-striker Matthew Kuhnmann on the third ball before the twists continued when David bowled a full toss which was hit by Bazle for a six. He managed to dismiss Bazley off the last two balls to keep the Hurricanes’ season alive, at least momentarily.
heat breaks at death
Letting the third position slip through your fingers will waste heat. They struggled before Pierson and Hahn combined for a 73-run partnership to pull the Heat out of a hole.
Pierson, who was the Heat’s most reliable batsman during their early season struggles, drew on his wealth of experience while Hahn showed why he has become a vital part of the middle-order with clever flicks down the leg-side .
Hahn also showed his toughness after Meredith’s blowout and stayed at the crease, but fell short shortly after with the Heat 18 runs short. Pierson was then unable to be the heroic hero as the Heat finished fifth and set to face the Thunder in the Eliminator on Friday.
Swepson continues strong rebound ahead of India tour
Legspinner Mitchell Swepson was dropped earlier in the season and failed to take a wicket in his first five innings that he bowled.
But he has come back strong recently and has bowled particularly well for Swepson in a much-needed tonic ahead of the crucial Test tour of India. He continued his strong bounce with dangerous spells to keep the Hurricanes’ mighty batsmen at bay in the middle overs.
Swepson took a sharp turn, although his only wicket was coincidentally when a long jump edged Ben McDermott, who was caught by a brilliantly diving Marnus Labuschagne.
He hit just one boundary in his four-over spell and returned figures of 1 for 17, playing his part in a disciplined attack in which seamer Michael Neser claimed a four-wicket haul.
Hurricanes’ revamped batting line-up struggling
The Hurricanes on paper have arguably the most explosive batting line-up in the competition. But they have performed abysmally poorly and the Hurricanes have teetered on the brink of confrontation.
Opener McDermott, another out-of-form batsman, moved to No.4 and was replaced by captain Matthew Wade, who moved to No.6 – a position he had taken for Australia, but for the Hurricanes since BBL07. Did not bat.
The changes did not provide the needed spark, with the Hurricanes regularly losing wickets. McDermott and Wade both fell cheaply, with only Wright saving the Hurricanes from embarrassment by scoring 56 after a stormy start.
He outshone his more high-profile teammates and his knocks proved standout in a low-scoring encounter.
Tristan Lovelett is a journalist based in Perth
