Hurricanes dethrone Scorchers with Perth pummeling

Perth Scorchers were subjected to a hammering in their first match at Optus Stadium, Hobart Hurricanes reaching the final with a huge win.

Published : Feb 01, 2018 18:21 IST

Matthew Wade set the tone with a rapid half-century and Dan Christian sparkled as Hobart Hurricanes marched into the final with a crushing 71-run win to end Perth Scorchers' reign as Big Bash League champions 

The Scorchers were strong favourites in the first match at their new home, but the Hurricanes blew them away to silence an expectant crowd at Optus Stadium.

Wade top scored with 71 from only 45 deliveries and Ben McDermott smashed a 30-ball unbeaten 67, Hobart posting an imposing 210-4 on a flat track – the highest total in the 2017-18 tournament.

Tom Rogers claimed three early wickets and Christian took 4-17 after making a brisk 37, the three-time champions dismissed for only 139 to miss out on a home final after finishing top of the ladder.

The Hurricanes will attempt to win a maiden BBL title away to either Adelaide Strikers or Melbourne Renegades in a decider on Sunday.

 

FOUNDATIONS LAID BY WADE

Tim Paine was preferred to Wade for the Ashes, but it was Australia's axed wicketkeeper-batsman who put his side well on the way to a big total in the absence of D'Arcy Short.

With BBL sensation Short called up for Australia Twenty20 duty, Paine produced the fireworks at the top of the order.

He was struck on the helmet by Mitchell Johnson, but recovered to land some big blows of his own on the paceman and the returning Mitchell Marsh – who were wicketless for 96 between them from their eight overs.

Wade hooked the expensive Marsh (0-53) for six and found the ropes 10 times to lay the foundations.

 

MCDERMOTT MUSCLE BURNS SCORCHERS

McDermott again showed he is capable of doing damage if he gets his eye in, unleashing some lusty blows as the Scorchers failed to stem the flow of runs.

The right-hander raced to a 45-ball fifty, also setting about Marsh and Johnson then hitting Jhye Richardson for three sixes in the penultimate over.

McDermott cleared the ropes six times and put on 88 with Christian in a swashbuckling stand of 88 from only 6.3 overs. 

 

CHRISTIAN PREYS ON FLOUNDERING SCORCHERS

Christian ensured there was no respite for the Scorchers attack, hitting two sixes in an entertaining 22-ball knock as McDermott teed off at the other end.

Rogers got rid of Michael Klinger, Shaun Marsh and Cameron Bancroft early in Perth's run chase and Christian saw the back of Mitchell Marsh for only three.

The all-rounder bowled with impressive pace and rounded off a huge win for the Hurricanes by trapping Tim Bresnan, the Scorchers' top scorer with 43, leg before.

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