The 43rd T20 match of the KFC Big Bash League was fought between Sydney Thunder and Hobart Hurricanes at Manuka Oval, Canberra on 18 Jan 2021. Hobart won the toss and invited the opposition team to bat first. Usman Khawaja and Alex Hales were sent on the crease to open for Thunder. Riley Meredith got the new ball in hand to attack.
Both the openers gave a wonderful start and scored 40 runs at the end of the first mandatory Powerplay. Hobart needed a wicket because both openers were playing the Hurricane’s bowlers very easily. But Scott Boland changed the dynamics of the match in the 7th over. He had sent back both openers and Oliver Davies in his single over. Three wickets in a single over changed the game completely. Then, Sam Billings and Callum Ferguson handled the situation and built another good partnership of 68 runs. But Scott Boland was in a different mood and dismissed Sam Billings in his over. Sam Billings made much-needed 50 runs from 34 balls. Finally, the score of the Thunder reached 177 runs and Hurricanes needed 178 runs 120 balls to win the match.
Will Jacks and D’Arcy Short were sent to chase the target. Adam Milne got the new ball to attack. At the beginning of the chase, the Hurricanes lost both openers at the score of just 13 runs in 2.4 overs. Hobart never wished that kind of start from their openers but the next two batsmen, Ben McDermott and Dawid Malan played an incredible inning and had built a partnership of 109 runs. McDermott had played a match-winning inning of 96 runs from 56 balls. Hobart did not get any problem and achieved the target in 18 overs.
Hobart Hurricanes won the 43rd BBL match by 6 wickets with 12 balls left and Ben McDermott became the Man of the Match for his superb performance.
Stats - Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Thunder Head to Head