In a breathtaking turn of events, the Hobart Hurricanes have suffered a catastrophic final-over collapse, throwing away the Big Bash League minor premiership and handing Perth Scorchers a golden opportunity to finish the regular season on top.
A Choke for the Ages at Ninja Stadium
The Hurricanes, who have led the BBL table for much of the season and had already secured their finals berth, needed a straightforward 27 runs from the final 26 deliveries to seal victory against the Brisbane Heat on Wednesday and guarantee hosting rights for the Qualifier final. Having restricted the Heat to 160, the chase seemed well in hand with the score at 5-150.
However, in a dramatic implosion that will haunt the purple-clad side, they lost four wickets in the last three overs, crumbling to 8-156. The match came down to the final ball, with Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain on strike needing five runs to win or a boundary to force a super over.
Zaman Khan's Ice-Cold Final Over Seals the Deal
Pakistan paceman Zaman Khan, with his distinctive slinging action, delivered a masterclass in death bowling under immense pressure. He conceded just a single run from his first five balls of the final over, which included the crucial wicket of the last recognised batter, Nikhil Choudhary. Facing Hossain for the last delivery, Khan fired the ball wide outside off stump, and the tailender could only push it to deep cover for a single, handing the Heat a nail-biting three-run victory.
Finals Frenzy: What This Means for the Run Home
This stunning result has massive implications for the BBL|15 finals series. The Heat keep their own slim finals hopes alive, but now require victories in all their remaining matches.
The real beneficiary is the Perth Scorchers. Perth can now leapfrog Hobart into first place if they defeat the Melbourne Renegades at Marvel Stadium on Thursday, and then overcome their crosstown rivals, the Melbourne Stars, at Optus Stadium on Saturday in their final home-and-away fixture.
Saturday's Western Derby now carries even greater weight. If the Scorchers beat the Renegades, a victory over the Stars would not only secure top spot for Perth but could also see Melbourne Stars claim the minor premiership with a win of their own. A loss for the Scorchers against the Stars, however, would see them potentially fall to third, losing the valuable double chance afforded to the top two teams.
The Hurricanes' choke has turned the final rounds of the BBL regular season into a high-stakes thriller, with the Scorchers' destiny firmly in their own hands.
