Big Bash League, Perth Report: Scorchers prevail in tense win over Hobart

Ben Hilfenhaues bowled well, but was expensive in final overs.

A high-quality bowling performance from Nathan Coulter-Nile and some superb fielding towards the end gave Perth Scorchers a thrilling 7 run win over the Hobart Hurricanes at Perth. Hobart Hurricanes were in control till the 17^th over, but the wicket of Shoaib Malik in the 18^th over changed the course of the match. After the wicket of Malik in the 18^th over, Hobart lost four wickets for just 7 runs in one and half overs.

Hobart Hurricanes started the chase well, but they lost wickets regularly. The scorecard suggests every batsmen got a start, but they didn’t convert them into a meaningful innings. However they lost Tim Paine cheaply for 9. His opening partner Dunk got a start, but he sliced a full delivery of Mitchell Marsh to the point fielder Shaun Marsh to end his innings. Birt was unfortunately run-out for 22 when he looked in sublime form.

Shoaib Malik and Owais Shah subsequently put on 51 runs for the third wicket which helped Hobart inch closer towards Perth Scorchers total of 153 runs. At the time, Hobart needed 21 runs off 18 balls. There was no pressure as the req. run rate was under control. However Shoaib Malik didn’t have the patience as he pulled back of a length delivery straight to deep midwicket fielder Behrendorff for 26. In the last ball of the same over, Yasir Arafat removed Wells with a superb yorker for only 1, to push Hobart Hurricanes on to the backfoot. Hobart Hurricanes, thereafter, never recovered and finally ended up losing by a tiny margin.

Nathan Coulter Nile was the pick of the bowlers as he grabbed 3 wickets for 15 runs at 3.75, while Yasir Arafat grabbed two wickets.

The main reason for Scorchers victory, however, owed good batting display. They won an important toss and exploited the surface to perfection. Shaun Marsh and Simon Katich, known for aggressiveness, attacked the Hobart bowlers right from the word go and they rose to 45/0 off 6 overs. However they lost Shaun Marsh and Simon Katich in the space of two overs. They soon lost the wicket of Voges and Simmons in quick succession due to poor communication between the batsmen. However some late fireworks from Mitchell Marsh and Turner helped Perth Scorchers to post a score that could be defended by their bowlers.

For Hobart, Bollinger bowled well as he finished with the figures of 4-0-23-1. Ben Hilfehaues and Laughlin, though they were expensive, managed a wicket each.