Analysis: Sixers defeated the Hurricanes’ 135 for 8 with four balls remaining and are now 2-0 in the BBL season

Hobart Hurricanes’ Injury-plagued Riley Meredith appeared to be suffering from a side strain when the Sydney Sixers, captained by Daniel Hughes, defeated his team by six wickets.

Hobart Hurricanes’ Injury-plagued Riley Meredith appeared to be suffering from a side strain when the Sydney Sixers, captained by Daniel Hughes, defeated his team by six wickets.

In Launceston on Monday night, the Sixers, who are 2-0 in the BBL season, defeated the Hurricanes’ 135 for 8 with four balls remaining.

Ahead of Thursday’s first Test match against Pakistan, Steven Smith departed the squad, and Hughes took his place, scoring an unbeaten 60 from 50 balls.

Along with Moises Henriques (20 from 24), he put together a 47-run partnership that resolved a good portion of the chase. 

Hughes struck a massive leg-side six off Nathan Ellis to end all doubts about the result, with Sydney needing seven from six deliveries. A boundary through the covers was then used by Tom Curran to ice the game.

Halfway through the third over of the chase, Meredith delivered a ball at 152 kph and pulled up, signaling to his side. 

It was his first domestic match after sustaining a side strain during a one-day cup match for Tasmania in September. Channel 7 Meredith was told by Hurricanes coach Jeff Vaughan that scans would be available on Tuesday.

Hurricanes opener Caleb Jewell had his team off to a flying start before the wheels came off after the power play.

In the sixth over, Curran started the damage by having Jewell caught at mid-off. Ben Dwarshuis, a left-arm quick, then dismissed Tim David, a representative of Australia for single figures in his first over, and England import Sam Hain.

Jack Edwards, a young all-round player, got involved in the action when Ben McDermott’s edge was grabbed by wicketkeeper Josh Philippe with a one-handed diving catch at full stretch.

Edwards had bowled just one over in his 30 previous BBL matches before finishing with 2 for 18 from four overs.

In the ninth over, the Hurricanes were down to 69 for 5, but imports Chris Jordan and Corey Anderson stopped the bleeding.

BEST PERFORMANCES – BATTERS

DP Hughes SS

60 runs (50) 4 fours 1 six

CP Jewell HH

42 runs (24) 7 fours 1 six

BEST PERFORMANCES – BOWLERS

TK Curran SS

O       4

M     0

R     19

W     3

ECO 4.75

CJ Anderson HH

O 3.3

M 0

R 10

W 2

ECO 2.85

PARTNERSHIPS

Hobart Hurricanes

MS Wade           CP Jewell

11 (7)     34 (16)   23 (9)

CJ Anderson        CJ Jordan

15 (19)   32 (40)    16 (21)

Sydney Sixers

C Henriques DP Hughes

20 (24) 47 (44) 22 (20)

JC Silk DP Hughes

23 (19) 39 (30) 16 (11)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Daniel Hughes, SS

60* (50)