EVEN losing their captain hours before the BBL|14 match could not stop a rampant Hobart Hurricanes from inflicting Sydney Sixers’ first loss of the season. In an incredible bowling performance, the Hurricanes skittled the previously unbeaten Sixers for just 111 after putting up a total of 6-161, running out 50-run winners.

Despite not having captain and fast bowler Nathan Ellis in the side due to illness, the home team put on a bowling display for the ages with English import Chris Jordan snagging 3-22 off three overs, while Afghanistan spinner Waqar Salamkheil and towering Queenslander Billy Stanlake both took 2-22 from brilliant spells.

Despite the memorable bowling display it was allrounder Nikhil Chaudhary who won Player of the Match honours for the purple side with a game-high knock of 42 off 31 balls, while also finishing with 1-15 off three in an economical spell with the ball.

Hobart had no shortage of contributors in its innings with openers Matthew Wade and Mitchell Owen putting on a 45-run partnership as the Hurricanes raced to 0-38 from the Power Play. The Sixers started to gain some momentum when Hayden Kerr took the breakthrough wicket of Owen, before veteran Jackson Bird grabbed two more in quick succession, dismissing Wade and then Shai Hope.

Another partnership would soon form though, as Ben McDermott (34 off 25) and Chaudhary would steady the ship, adding another 70 runs to the total during their time together. That included a Power Surge two-over spell of 33 runs with 21 of them coming in over 12 courtesy of McDermott’s massive hitting.

After McDemott fell in the 15th over, the runs were not quite as free flowing, but the Hurricanes still managed to add a further36 to the total as Jordan helped wag the tail with an unbeaten 16 off 11 balls. Bird would finish with an outstanding 4-16 in his best Twenty20 figures, but it would be all for nought in the end.

The normally reliable Sixers just never got going with Josh Philippe (six runs off seven balls), James Vince (11 off10) and Kurtis Patterson (nine off nine) all going rather cheaply. Skipper Moises Henriques and fellow middle-order batsman Jordan Silk combined for a fourth-wicket partnership of 35, but that was as good as it got, with Henriques’ 22 and Silk’s 20 the Sixers’ highest scorers.

Aside from a late attempt from Todd Murphy (unbeaten 14 off 19 balls) and a double-figure effort of Akeal Hosein (10 off 13), there was very little to like from a batting standpoint for the Sixers. They finished with just 111 runs from 19.3 overs, as each of the six Hurricanes bowlers took at least one wicket on the night.

Sydney Sixers do not have to wait long for atonement with a return to Coffs Harbour where they host Brisbane Heat on Friday night. Hobart Hurricanes will remain at Bellerieve Oval for another home clash, this time up against Adelaide Strikers on Sunday night.

SCORECARD

RESULT: Hurricanes won by 50 runs
POTM: Nikhil Chaudhary (Hobart Hurricanes)
BAT FLIP: Sixers won and elected to bowl

Hobart Hurricanes
Nikhil Chaudhary 42 (31), Ben McDermott 34 (25), Mitchell Owen 33 (17)
Jackson Bird 4-16 (4), Jack Edwards 1-31 (4)

Sydney Sixers
Moises Henriques 22 (19), Jordan Silk 20 (20), Todd Murphy 14* (19)
Chris Jordan 3-22 (3), Billy Stanlake 2-22 (4), Waqar Salamkheil 2-22 (3)

INNINGS BREAKDOWN:

Power Play (1-4):
Hurricanes: 0-38
Sixers: 2-26

Halfway (10):
Hurricanes: 3-74
Sixers: 4-64

Power Surge:
Hurricanes: (13-14): 3-85 to 3-118 (0-33)
Sixers: (12-13): 5-68 to 7-83 (2-15)

Totals:
Hurricanes: 6-161
Sixers: 111 (19.3)

SQUADS

Hobart Hurricanes: Matthew Wade (wk), Mitchell Owen, Shai Hope, Ben McDermott (c), Nikhil Chaudhary, Tim David, Chris Jordan, Billy Stanlake, Peter Hatzoglou, Riley Meredith, Waqar Salamkheil

Sydney Sixers: Josh Philippe (wk), James Vince, Kurtis Patterson, Moises Henriques (c), Jordan Silk, Jack Edwards, Hayden Kerr, Ben Dwarshuis, Akeal Hosein, Todd Murphy, Jackson Bird

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