A BRUTAL knock from Jake Weatherald has seen the Adelaide Strikers keep their BBL|13 finals ambitions alive, while ending that of the Hobart Hurricanes last night. Having amassed a mere 11 runs in three previous innings this season, Weatherald blasted 80* (32) to steer his side to victory in Bellerive.

It was a do-or-die clash for both sides, who sat fifth and sixth on the table respectively. While the Strikers leapfrogged the Melbourne Stars into fourth spot with one game remaining, the Hurricanes can no longer make finals and will complete their season with an away clash against the Stars on Monday night.

What made the result, and Weatherald’s performance, even more astounding was that they occurred in the absence of Chris Lynn and Alex Carey. Without them, the Strikers’ middle order was at risk of being exposed if opening pair Matt and D’Arcy Short failed to fire.

Lynn (hamstring) is touch-and go to return for the Strikers’ potentially decisive final game against Sydney Thunder, while Carey returns to the Australian Test setup. The former is also set to miss out on Adelaide’s finals campaign with other cricketing commitments.

Adelaide sent Hobart in to bat and it looked a good decision from the outset, as Tuesday night’s lone hand Ben McDermott (7) was removed alongside returning opening partner Matthew Wade (14) within the power play. As a result, the Hurricanes ticked over at around a run-a-ball until the halfway mark.

Mac Wright and Caleb Jewell were tasked with building a platform for the innings, combining for 55 runs until a brilliant bit of keeping from Harry Nielsen saw the former stumped for 37. Jewell (32) followed in the next over, perhaps leaving a power surge opportunity left untaken.

Both set batters were undone by the slow spin of Cameron Boyce, who picked up 2-17 off his four overs. Big hitters like Tim David (22 off 10) and Nikhil Chaudhary (22 off 18) also got starts for the Hurricanes before heading back to the sheds, with constant wickets halting the side’s momentum.

In reply, Weatherald and the Strikers had no such issue finding the rope while staying at the crease long enough to do serious damage. The first drop struck at rate of 250, hitting nine fours and four sixes while taking a particular liking to Paddy Dooley, who he dispatched for three maximums in the final over.

The Strikers put on 56 runs in the last 18 deliveries, powering home with 25 balls to spare to bring their net run rate back into the positive. Adam Hose chimed in with a handy 25* (21) to help his side pass the top order test without Lynn and Carey.

The unbeaten third-wicket partnership of 108 came together after D’Arcy (20) and Matt Short (39) were dismissed within an over of each other. They achieved a strong start with 31 runs in the power play, again passing 50 in an opening stand which helped set the tone for Weatherald to follow.

In the end, it was a thumping and signalled the Strikers’ intentions with finals now a real possibility. A win over the Thunder in Canberra on Sunday would make it a reality, pending how the Stars fare against the Renegades and Hurricanes.

SCORECARD

RESULT: Adelaide Strikers won by 8 wickets with 25 balls remaining.
POTM: Jake Weatherald (Adelaide Strikers)
BAT FLIP: Adelaide Strikers won the bat flip & elected to bowl.

KEY PLAYERS

Hobart Hurricanes:
Mac Wright 37 (27), Caleb Jewell 32 (30), Tim David 22 (10)
Nikhil Chaudhary 1-18 (3), Chris Jordan 1-33 (3)

Adelaide Strikers:
Cameron Boyce 2-17 (4), Jamie Overton 2-36 (4), Henry Thornton 2-37 (3)
Jake Weatherald 80* (32), Matt Short 39 (25), Adam Hose 25* (21)

INNINGS BREAKDOWN

Powerplay (1-4)
Hurricanes: 2-28
Strikers: 0-31

Halfway (10)
Hurricanes: 2-68
Strikers: 2-88

Power Surge
Hurricanes: 2-27
Strikers: N/A

Totals:
Hurricanes: 6-167 (20)
Strikers: 2-169 (15.5)