HOBART HURRICANES secured a double finals chance with last night’s thrilling final ball victory over Brisbane Heat at The Gabba. The visitors not only reclaimed top spot with one game left to play, but also left the defending champions’ title defence hanging by a thread.

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With the Heat regaining Test stars Usman Khawaja, who captained in the absence of Colin Munro (finger), and Marnus Labuschagne, there was genuine hope they could snap Hobart’s six-game winning streak. That was not to be as the ‘Cane Train’ arrived at the 202-run target destination.

Labuschagne pivoted the Heat’s innings as they were sent in to bat, notching a new personal-best BBL score of 77 (44) before being dismissed off the final ball. He was part of two significant partnerships, combining with Matt Renshaw (40 off 25) for 69, and with Tom Alsop (39 off 27) for 85.

Together with Alsop, he utilised the Power Surge to perfection, compiling 31 runs to bring the Heat’s scoring rate back above 10. A trio of boundaries took Labuschagne past 50 in the first surge over, before his partnership with Alsop surpassed the same mark in the second.

Renshaw was run out as Brisbane brought up triple-figures before the halfway mark, continuing on from the calculated hitting of Khawaja (23 off 9). The latter, along with former Test teammate Nathan McSweeney, formed the Heat’s seventh different opening combination this season.

It lasted only seven balls before McSweeney toe-ended an aerial shot to hand debutant Marcus Bean his maiden BBL wicket from his first legal delivery. Khawaja was hitting them much cleaner but had to go late in the Power Play after hitting Nathan Ellis for consecutive boundaries.

The Hobart captain went on to remove both Labuschagne and Alsop in the final over to finish with figures of 3-42 (4), while Bean put up a respectable 1-32 (4). Emerging allrounder Mitchell Owen also got amongst the wickets, claiming 1-20 off his three overs.

In response, the Hurricanes rode their luck early. While the 80-run opening stand between Owen and Caleb Jewell made for ominous reading, the Heat dropped two chances in a first over which leaked 17 runs. The pair went on to compile it 47 in the Power Play.

It took a well controlled Khawaja catch to end Owen’s fence-clearing knock on 44 (20 balls, 6 sixes), as Spencer Johnson returned to reclaim some of the momentum. In a game where over 400 runs were scored, the quick’s figures of 3-26 off four overs proved ultra impressive.

Having fallen short of triple-figures before drinks and lost a pair of wickets, Jewell was left to consolidate alongside Nikhil Chaudhary. The pair provided a launching pad before taking the Power Surge, needing 43 off the last five overs. Both players were dismissed by the end of those two overs.

The 81-run partnership off just 51 balls included a contribution of 39 (27) from Chaudhary, while Jewell’s knock ended on 76 (49) having been dropped on 60. Clutch high catches from McSweeney ensured both were sent back to the sheds, leaving 29 to get off 18 deliveries.

All the little moments seemed to be going against the Heat, including their dropped chances. Unfortunately, spinner Matthew Kuhnemann injured his thumb in the midst of an economic over which forced Labuschagne to bowl the final ball. The rank half-tracker was smashed for four.

That left 20 to get in two overs, with Tim David‘s (11 off 10) dismissal in the 19th seemingly making things easier for the home side. With 13 left for Jake Doran and Matthew Wade to accrue in the seven balls thereafter, it was anyone’s game.

Doran played his role perfectly to get Wade on strike at key moments, before the experienced gloveman flicked a six off the final delivery to break the deadlock and get his side home. The win brought Hobart’s win streak up to seven games, though Sydney Sixers may yet steal back top spot.

The Heat’s final chance to make the top four comes against Melbourne Renegades as part of Saturday’s double-header. They will have to win that match, then count on Hobart beating the fourth-placed Melbourne Stars in the closing game of the season to keep their title defence alive.

SCORECARD

RESULT: Hurricanes won by 5 wickets.
POTM: Caleb Jewell (Hobart Hurricanes)
BAT FLIP: Hurricanes won and elected to bowl.

Brisbane Heat 6-201 (20)
Marnus Labuschagne 77 (44), Matthew Renshaw 40 (25), Tom Alsop 39 (27)
Nathan Ellis 3-42 (4), Mitchell Owen 1-20 (3), Marcus Bean 1-32 (4)

Hobart Hurricanes 5-207 (20)
Caleb Jewell 76 (49), Mitchell Owen 44 (20), Nikhil Chaudhary 39 (27)
Spencer Johnson 3-26 (4), Xavier Bartlett 1-42 (4), Mitch Swepson 1-45 (4)

INNINGS BREAKDOWN:

Power Play (1-4):
Heat: 2-43
Hurricanes: 0-47

Halfway (10):
Heat: 3-103
Hurricanes: 2-97

Power Surge:
Heat (15-16): 4-128 to 4-161 (0-33)
Hurricanes (16-17): 2-159 to 4-173 (2-14)

Totals:
Heat: 6-201 (20)
Hurricanes: 5-207 (20)

STANDINGS

1. Hobart Hurricanes | 6-1, 1 NR | 15 points | 0.135 NRR
2. Sydney Sixers | 6-2, 1 NR | 13 points | 0.16 NRR
3. Sydney Thunder | 5-3, 1 NR | 11 points | 0.34 NRR
4. Melbourne Stars | 4-5 | 8 points | -0.07 NRR
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5. Brisbane Heat | 3-4, 1 NR | 7 points | -0.794 NRR
6. Adelaide Strikers | 3-6 | 6 points | 0.07 NRR
7. Perth Scorchers | 3-6 | 6 points | 0.06 NRR
8. Melbourne Renegades | 3-6 | 6 points, 0.03 NRR

REMAINING FIXTURES

Sydney Sixers vs. Sydney Thunder
Friday January 17 @ SCG

Melbourne Renegades vs. Brisbane Heat
Saturday January 18 @ Marvel Stadium

Perth Scorchers vs. Adelaide Strikers
Saturday January 18 @ Perth Stadium

Melbourne Stars vs. Hobart Hurricanes
Sunday January 19 @ MCG

FINALS SCHEDULE

Qualifier: 1st vs. 2nd | January 21
Knockout: 3rd vs. 4th | January 22
Challenger: Qualifier loser vs. Knockout winner | January 24
Final: Qualifier winner vs. Challenger winner | January 27