Hobart Hurricanes 207 for 5 (Jewell 76, Owen 44, Johnson 3-26) won Brisbane heat 201 for 6 (Labuschagne 77, Renshaw 40, Ellis 3-42) by five wickets
Matthew Wade hit a six off the final ball as the Hobart Hurricanes unleashed their considerable firepower in a magnificent chase of 202 to defeat the Brisbane Heat in a pivotal result that kept three teams’ BBL finals hopes alive.
The result kept alive the slim finals prospects of Adelaide Strikers, Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Renegades, who would have been eliminated had Heat won.
Owen turns on early, Wade the deceased hero
Owen’s elevation from the lower-middle order to opener has proven to be a masterstroke for the Hurricanes this season. The powerfully built Owen has had the license to attack on the power play and once again sent the Hurricanes flying.
He hit three sixes in his favorite leg-side region as the Hurricanes advanced to 47 for 0 after four overs. Owen was hot and curiously a fire started in the DJ booth on the terraces.
There was a brief delay as nearby fans had to be evacuated, but Owen didn’t miss a beat on the restart. He hit off-spinner Mitchell Swepson for a trio of hits to the crowd in the sixth over before making 44 off 20 balls.
After Charlie Wakim was stumped for a duck in a tight decision, Jewell and Nikhil Chaudhary combined for an 81-run partnership to get the Hurricanes back on track. Jewell batted beautifully with several superb hits through the covers as the Hurricanes gained ascendancy as they took the Power Surge in the 16th over.
But the match changed with Chaudhary and Jewell dismissed at the Surge and it all came down to a tense final.
Wade and Jake Doran had to battle slower deliveries from Bartlett before Wade bowled a faster-paced ball into the crowd to seal a shock result that had wider ramifications.
Heat’s mixed fielding effort, Kuhnemann injury scare
The Heat were outstanding on the ball and on the field during their championship run last year. But they have been torn as this season has progressed and lamented several missed sacks.
Nathan McSweeney was the main offender with three dropped catches, including Owen and Jewell early in their innings. In his defense there were tough chances, and he almost made up for them with brilliant efforts to dismiss Jewell and Chaudhary. Swepson also grabbed a blinder to dismiss Tim David, but it wasn’t enough.
There will be a nervous wait for the fitness of Kuhnemann, who ran off the field with one ball left in his end after being hit on the right thumb by a firm push from Wade.
Newbie Bean attacks in his professional debut
In a blow to the Hurricanes, speedy Billy Stanlake was ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering a shoulder injury in the outfield against the Renegades.
Captain Nathan Ellis handed the 21-year-old – pardon the pun – the new ball, but he got off to a nervy start after bowling a wide delivery. He sprayed his next delivery but McSweeney could only kick the ball straight to cover for an ugly dismissal.
Bean, sporting a wispy mustache and bleached blonde hair, was naturally ecstatic as he clenched his fist and let out an understandable cry of joy. Launching sharply at around 135 km/h, he unleashed a spectacular throw past Labuschagne.
At the end of his debut, Bean bowled in four different phases and equipped himself well to finish with 1 for 32 in 4 overs.
Labuschagne shines in his only BBL appearance
Khawaja tried to make up for lost time with a first boundary ball. He then displayed the kind of inventive batting most befitting his new Test opening partner Sam Konstas with a six from Ellis followed by a full toss to the boundary.
Khawaja raced to 23 off 8 balls before being deceived by a superb slower delivery from Ellis. In came Matthew Renshaw, who outshone Labuschagne with a quickfire 40 to dominate the 69-run partnership.
Renshaw’s improved power was again on display as the Heat progressed at a run rate of 10 per over. But he was left frustrated after the goalkeeper wore him down while attempting a second run.
Heat went through a lull in the middle overs until he took the Power Surge and blasted 33 runs in the 15th and 16th overs. Labuschagne took control as he mixed traditional strokes with inventiveness to hit the quick Riley Meredith down the ground.
Labuschagne has a modest record in BBL but clearly enjoyed, like Steven Smith, the freedom of T20 cricket after a grueling summer of testing. He scored his second BBL half-century off 31 balls and combined with Tom Alsop in an 85-run innings partnership.
Labuschagne reached a new personal best score in the BBL before being dismissed on the last ball of the innings.
Tristan Lavalette is a journalist based in Perth.
