The Hobart Hurricanes have dramatically kept their hopes of securing back-to-back Big Bash League titles alive, edging out the Melbourne Stars by a mere three runs in a rain-affected thriller on Wednesday night. The match culminated in a nail-biting finish that went down to the very last ball, with the Stars requiring a six for victory or a four to force a super over.
Final Ball Drama Seals Hurricanes' Victory
With the Stars needing 26 runs off the final over, the game seemed all but over. However, a flurry of late hitting brought them to the final delivery, despite losing the wicket of Marcus Stoinis on the second ball of that over. Hilton Cartwright, who came to the crease under immense pressure, smashed 14 runs off the next three balls to set up a grandstand finish.
It was then that Mitch Owen, who had contributed only seven runs with the bat earlier in the match, stepped up to bowl the decisive ball. Under extreme pressure, Owen delivered a perfect delivery that Cartwright could only manage to hit for a single, securing the Hurricanes' thrilling win and keeping their season alive.
Ponting Praises Owen's Composure Under Pressure
Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting was full of praise for Owen's composure in the high-stakes moment. "That's a good ball under pressure. That's the most pressure he would have been under in his whole career," Ponting remarked. "To execute something like that on the last ball, to keep your season live when batting is your number one skill ... perfect execution, ices the game for the Hurricanes. They live to fight another day."
Rain Impacts Match Conditions and Strategy
The match was significantly affected by weather, with rain delaying the start and reducing the contest to just 10 overs per side. The Hobart Hurricanes posted a competitive total of 5-114 from their allotted overs, thanks in large part to Australian Test star Beau Webster, who crunched 47 runs off just 26 balls.
Further rain interruptions during the Stars' run chase revised their target to 84 runs off seven overs. Joe Clarke top-scored for the Stars with 31 runs, but questions have been raised about their batting order strategy. Power hitters Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell were not promoted up the order, with Stoinis arriving at the crease at 2-41 in the fifth over and Sam Harper retiring in the sixth over to bring Maxwell in for the finish.
Criticism of Stars' Tactical Decisions
Former cricketer Brad Hodge, commenting on Seven, suggested the Stars might regret their approach. "They will have to look (at their strategy) and wonder if they left their big guns in the shed too long in this game," Hodge said. Despite the late surge, the big hitters could not get the job done, allowing the Hurricanes to hold on for a narrow victory.
What's Next for the Hurricanes
With this win, the Hobart Hurricanes advance to face the Sydney Sixers on Friday night. The winner of that clash will earn the right to challenge the Perth Scorchers in Sunday night's Big Bash League final, setting the stage for another exciting showdown in the tournament.
