HOBART Hurricanes have qualified for their first-ever home Big Bash League (BBL) decider after beating the Sydney Sixers by 12 runs at Bellerive Oval last night. A packed out local crowd was enamoured by brilliant defensive bowling as their side successfully defended 7-173 after being sent in to bat first.

On a night for history-making, it was the Hurricanes’ maiden finals win at home as they hunt a breakthrough title. Along with fellow contender Melbourne Stars, they are one of just two teams without a BBL championship having lost in two previous grand finals – the last being in 2017-18.

The Sixers, meanwhile, will lean on their second chance to face the winner of tonight’s Knockout between the Stars and Sydney Thunder. They were always behind the ledger in the chase after an electric Power Play from the bowling side which saw them stumble out to 3-17.

Returning quick Riley Meredith cranked up the heat, sending down 150km/h thunderbolts and removing Josh Philippe without scoring in the first over. The 1-1 scoreline turned into 2-2 when Cameron Gannon sent Jack Edwards packing for a duck in the second.

The rot did not stop there, with Meredith returning to remove opposition captain Moises Henriques (1) the very next over, leaving the Sixers 3-5. Henriques’ dismissal came thanks to a blinding Ben McDermott catch at slip, as he soared away to his left to take the fast-travelling ball horizontally.

That left opener Kurtis Patterson to consolidate alongside Jordan Silk, eking out a 73-run partnership off 53 balls before Gannon returned to remove Patterson for 48 off 33. Still well behind the game, Silk again rebuilt alongside young gun Lachlan Shaw and took the Power Surge with 75 off 36 required.

A handy 20-run spurt made the equation 55 off 24 as the Sixers hung in there, but could not penetrate or clear the field consistently enough. Silk was dismissed attempting to do so, having compiled 57 off 44. That brought dangerous hitter Ben Dwarshuis to the crease, though not even he could get it done.

Shaw (33 off 25) and Dwarshuis (16 off 8) finished unbeaten but were strangled by the death bowling of Nathan Ellis (1-37) and Chris Jordan (0-30). Opening pair Meredith (2-34) and Gannon (2-10) did the damage, with the former taking his 100th BBL wicket to be named Player of the Match.

Earlier, the Hurricanes got their innings off to an ideal start through Power Play specialist Mitchell Owen. The towering opening blasted 36 off 15 to help his side post 47 runs in the opening four overs. It was a shortlived stay, as he skied Jafer Chohan at the start of the fifth over.

Edwards then took a catch of the season contender to see veteran Matt Wade depart for four having been promoted to first drop. There was a nervous hush in the crowd as McDermott went about turning the momentum alongside Caleb Jewell, as they went 47 deliveries without a boundary.

The pair took their side to 2-81 at halfway, having been 0-43 after just three overs. McDermott eventually found the rope – twice – in the 14th over to provide a catalyst for the Power Surge, which brought about the end of Jewell (40 off 41), but helped add 33 runs to the total.

Just as McDermott began to shift gears, he was also felled by Chohan immediately after the surge to end with 42 off 31. The momentum shift proved momentary, as Tim David (25 off 10) provided a cameo before the Hurricanes added just 11 runs off the final two overs.

Chohan’s crucial breakthroughs made him the pick of Sydney’s bowlers with 2-28 (4). Dwarshuis made the key breakthrough of Jewell to boast 2-36, while Mitchell Perry (1-29) and Edwards (1-36) also got amongst the wickets. The innings labelled as scrappy proved more than enough in the end.

SCORECARD

RESULT: Hobart Hurricanes won by 12 runs.
POTM: Riley Meredith (Hobart Hurricanes)
BAT FLIP: Sydney Sixers elected to bowl first.

Hobart Hurricanes 7-173 (20)
Ben McDermott 42 (31), Caleb Jewell 40 (41), Mitchell Owen 36 (15)
Jafer Chohan 2-28 (4), Ben Dwarshuis 2-36 (4), Mitchell Perry 1-29 (3)

Sydney Sixers 5-161 (20)
Jordan Silk 57 (44), Kurtis Patterson 48 (33), Lachlan Shaw 33* (25)
Cameron Gannon 2-10 (3), Riley Meredith 2-34 (4), Nathan Ellis 1-37 (4)

INNINGS BREAKDOWN:

Power Play (1-4):
Hurricanes: 0-47
Sixers: 3-17

Halfway (10):
Hurricanes: 2-81
Sixers: 3-67

Power Surge:
Hurricanes (15-16): 2-107 to 3-140 (1-33)
Sixers (15-16): 4-99 to 4-119 (0-20)

Totals:
Hurricanes: 7-173 (20)
Sixers: 5-161 (20)