Hobart Hurricanes entered the home of Brisbane Heat to try and rebound from their hammering at the hands of Melbourne Stars a few days back. Despite coming out all guns blazing, they lost wickets at regular intervals which prevented them from reaching a formidable total on a reasonably batting-friendly surface.
Led by the inimitable Brendon McCullum, Heat powered their way towards the target in a rather ruthless manner. With this victory, they also surged to the top of the points table. On the other hand, Hurricanes remained at the sixth position.
Brief Scores: Hobart Hurricanes – 173/9 from 20 overs (Daniel Christian 33, Jonathan Wells 28, Jack Wildermuth 2/26, Mark Steketee 2/29); Brisbane Heat – 174/3 from 16.2 overs (Chris Lynn 84*, Brendon McCullum 72, Stuart Broad 1/24, Cameron Boyce 1/29)
Result – Brisbane Heat won by 7 wickets with 22 balls remaining
Let us take a close look at the five best moments from the enthralling encounter.
#5 Samuel Badree opens the proceedings
As he so often does, Samuel Badree bowled the very first over of this T20 match as well. Despite beginning his spell with a boundary, the canny leg-spinner imposed himself on the early stages by giving absolutely nothing for the batsmen to work with.
The seamers, particularly Mark Steketee, benefited from Badree’s wicket-to-wicket line at the other end. For the wrist-spinner himself, the reward was the big wicket of Kumar Sangakkara. The Sri Lankan maestro missed a flatter delivery fired towards the leg-stump and saw the umpire’s dreaded finger go up. He did not seem too pleased with the decision, though.
#4 George Bailey’s hilarious run-out
There are quite a few unlucky ways to get yourself run-out. From the ball grazing the bowler’s hands on its way to the non-striker’s end to paying the price for your partner’s mistake, the list goes on. But, George Bailey somehow managed an even more bizarre dismissal.
After Daniel Christian had cut Ben Cutting past the backward point fielder, three runs appeared to be up for grabs. However, as Alex Ross’ throw came in, Bailey’s bat got stuck on the turf for a brief moment. The wicket-keeper Jimmy Peirson, who had his back to the batsman, removed the bails just in time to render the dive irrelevant.
#3 Two in two brings trouble
Having lost four wickets before even the eighth over could be completed, Hurricanes were in considerable strife. But, Daniel Christian and Jonathan Wells knuckled down to do the repair job. The duo put on 60 runs from 39 balls in a bid to set the platform for the final hurrah.
Before the end overs blitz could arrive, both batsmen were dismissed off consecutive deliveries to hand back the initiative to Heat. Medium pacer Jack Wildermuth did the damage by simply bowling to his field and varying the pace smartly. While Wells was not able to pick the slower one, Christian placed a much wider delivery right into the hands of sweeper cover.
#2 Brendon McCullum’s in the house
It was no coincidence that Brendon McCullum hammered his way to the quickest ever Test ton in his very final match. The right-hander usually starts from fourth gear and keeps pushing the pace. He was at it again with a packed Gabba providing the perfect setting.
Despite being the skipper and witnessing his opening partner walking back quite early, McCullum did not shy away from his natural style. After greeting Stuart Broad with a 104-meter monster six, the 35-year old laid into Clive Rose’s harmless left-arm spin to make a mockery of the chase. During the course of his 35-ball 72, the former New Zealand skipper also became only the third batsman ever to complete 7000 runs in all T20 cricket after Chris Gayle and Brad Hodge.
#1 Chris Lynn’s six-hitting exhibition
With McCullum going hammer and tongs at one end, Chris Lynn did not take too long in making it a two-pronged attack. They manhandled Hobart’s bowling attack to such an extent that the fielders soon became consigned to their fate. The Queenslander unveiled a series of monstrous sixes with one off Shaun Tait measured at a whopping 125 meters.
Once his skipper departed back to the dressing room, Lynn upped the intensity. The 26-year old rode his luck and finished the game off with a flurry of maximums. No other batsman in Big Bash history has hit more sixes than him. Perhaps, no one else can match the ease with which he picks up the length and sends the ball sailing into the stands.
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