The Bellerive Oval will host the Hobart Hurricanes versus Melbourne Stars Big Bash League game – join us for live scores and commentary of the action throughout the game, with the match starting at 6.00 pm AEDT on January 8.
Their last loss to Brisbane Heat aside, the Hobart Hurricanes are the team to beat this tournament. Even in that defeat at the hands of Heat, the Hurricanes had almost managed to chase down 201 needed for the win, losing only by three runs in the end.
The Stars have had a mixed tournament this season. They were bulldozed by Thunder, edged out Brisbane, lost narrowly to the Sixers, were toppled by Perth scorchers before being helped by inclement weather and Duckworth-Lewis to notch up their second victory.
As a result, the Stars share the fourth position with Adelaide Strikers, Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Renegades – all of whom have four points.
With only two rounds of matches remaining, this game assumes a lot of importance for both teams, but more so for the Stars.
While Hurricanes will want to regain their winning momentum quickly after going down in their previous match, even a loss will allow them to remain a virtual certainty in the semi-final.
The Stars, in contrast, will bid their chances of making it to the knock-out round an adieu if they fail to defeat the Hurricanes.
While Travis Birt started off well for the Hurricanes, Owais Shah has come into his own rather well in the latter half. He had scores of 24 and 8 not-out before following it up with two unbeaten innings of 36 and 41 and then a 69 against Brisbane.
Birt is now at the top of the batting charts, having pipped Gayle to the second position. He averages more than 50 but more vitally at a strike-rate of 171.
What the Stars will look to exploit is the middle-order chink – not too many runs have been scored by those after Birt and Shah. If the Stars’ pace attack of Jackson Bird, James Faulkner and Clint McKay can eke out a few early wickets, the Shane Warne v Hurricanes battle could get really interesting.
Conversely, how David Hussey and company bat against the powerful Hurricanes bowling could decide the course of the game.
We will bring you the coverage throughout the game from the Bellerive Oval from 7.00 pm AEDT and hope to receive your opinions as the action unfolds.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
The Hurricanes will need to look at their fielding closely. Five dropped catches is a tad too much for even a five-day game - in 20 overs, it is almost unbelievable. Wright should be the man of the match for swashbuckling century. We will be back with the Adelaide v Sydney Sixers game tomorrow with its live coverage.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
And that is the end of that...not the kind of end one was anticipating when Owais Shah was at the crease. 45 were needed from 26 but Faulkner got rid of him and that was the start of a collapse. 19-run win for the Stars takes them to eight points from six matches, the same as Hurricanes (six matches) and Perth Scorchers (five matches)
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Umm, even the gods have had enough. It has started raining. Should have rained heavier after five overs, the Hurricanes would be saying. 28 needed off the last over.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Coming to an tame end now, two singles off the last tow balls. 36 needed from 12 and McKay to bowl. Wells, a recognised batsman is still at the crease.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
OUT!!! Doherty goes for a first-baller. Tried to hit inside out but goes straight to short-cover. White is the catcher, Hussey is the bowler and they now need 38 from 16. One wicket standing.Lost five wickets for 11.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Warne ends with 2/23 in four overs, and when you consider that the batting team has a run-rate of 9.7, it is excellent bowling. 39 needed from 18 balls. Captain Doherty needs to take matters in his own hands now. Hussey comes on.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
OUT!!! Hurricanes are going down in a hurry here. Hogan tried to send him into the orbit, instead goes only as far as long-on. White should have caught it very easily instead, Hussey dives in front of him and makes it look like a spectacular catch. 42 off 20 needed, lost four wickets for seven runs.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
OUT!!! Rana Naved tried to reverse sweep Warne but the wily master slowed it down a lot. Caught at cover. 44 from 22 needed. 3 wickets standing.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Two new batsmen at the crease. Wells yet to face a ball, Rana Naved on 1 from 1. 44 from 4 needed.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
OUT!!! That is a big one! Shah tried to scoop it over the point fielder but can only manage to get it straight to the fielder. Six down now and while the required rate is within control. Faulkner now has conceded 45 but got four wickets. 45 needed from 25.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Incidentally, Shah has got to his half-century as well.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Four! Shah has got another in the middle of the bat and he hits it straight over the umpire's head. 45 from 26.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
OUT!!! Matt Johnston tries to emulate his more illustrious partner Owais Shah, but only ends in spooning high up for the keeper to take an easy catch. 49 needed from 27 and Jonathon Wells comes in. He has opened the innings before in this tournament.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
SIX!!! Long time coming, Shah gets it in the middle and it goes all the way over long-on.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
After going for 28 in his first over, McKay has done well to concede only 11 from his next two. This time, he gives away only four as the required-rate climbs up a little. 57 needed from five overs.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
That six from Triffitt aside, there were six other runs in the over. 12 from it and the Hurricanes are within touching distance of the target - with the asking rate still around 10 an over. 61 from six needed and Owais Shah has quietly moved on to 43. McKay back on.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
OUT!!! And for the third time this innings, a six followed by a wicket. Edged through to the slop and Tom Triffitt's gone for 21.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
SIX!!! Faulkner replaces Shane Warne and Triffitt smashes him exactly between long-on and long-off for six! Big, big one.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
15 from that over, 73 needed off seven overs and this one is going right down to the wire. For the second time in a row, Shah is leading a 200-plus chase for the Hurricanes.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Four, single, four, four! Not turning out to be a great over as both Shah and Triffitt are taking toll. Of course, there was a near miss there, Triffitt could have been caught at wide long-on.