Sydney Thunder could be facing an early opening batter crisis after Sam Konstas was forced off the field through injury as the BBL defending champions overcame some late heart flutters in Hobart.
Konstas made 28 off 25 balls after the Thunder were sent in to bat in the rematch of last year’s final on Tuesday, but didn’t take the field for the hosts’ run chase in the loss to the Hurricanes.
The dashing right-hander received treatment after getting struck on the elbow by a delivery early in his innings, but still managed to hit some classy boundaries off Hurricanes quick Riley Meredith afterwards.
It’s a blow the Thunder can ill-afford with his opening partner David Warner sitting out the match with a back issue, but is tipped to return for Saturday’s Sydney derby against the Sixers.
On the flip side, the Hurricanes’ defence of their maiden crown couldn’t have started better.
Their quality, deep and versatile attack restricted the Thunder to 6-180 on a superb batting deck, before their power hitters did the rest.
Mitch Owen (32 off 14 balls), his new opening partner Nikhil Chaudhary (41 off 31) and Ben McDermott (38 off 24) all made solid contributions as Hobart won with four wickets and one ball to spare.
Hobart was cruising at 1-109 but lost 5-59 to give the Thunder a sniff of a miracle win, but held their composure to prevail.
Matt Gilkes replaced the injured David Warner (back) atop the order and got the Thunder off to a quick start with 20 off seven balls.
It allowed opening partner Konstas (28 off 25 balls) to ease his way into his innings, but he was eventually fooled by a slower ball from Billy Stanlake (four overs, 3-34) to become the tall quick’s second of his three victims.
While most eyes were on Konstas, it was the Thunder’s other forgotten former Test opener Cameron Bancroft (61 off 44 balls) who steered them to a half competitive total as wickets tumbled around him.
Bancroft faced just three ‘dot balls’ in bringing up a composed half century off just 37 balls.
The night began on a sombre note when a moment’s silence was held to honour Bondi massacre victims, with a subsequent round of applause to show appreciation for the first responders and members of the general public who gave assistance.
CANES LOOK OMINOUS
They won last year’s title, but the bad news for rivals is the Hurricanes have only got stronger.
The Hurricanes’ attack – not only the quality but the options and variety – is the envy of most teams.
They won last summer’s crown with the likes of Tim David and Nikhil Chaudhary shouldering the spin bowling load.
They’re serviceable, but the acquisition of international duo Rishad Hossain (Bangladesh, three overs, 0-18) and Rehan Ahmed (England, one over, 0-5) means rival batting line-ups will have little respite all tournament.
England’s Ashes tour has stumbled from bad to worse thus far, but their countryman Chris Jordan showed them how it’s done with two special deliveries.
After the Thunder got off to a scorching start with 1-39 off their first three overs, Jordan showed why he’s one of the world’s most decorated short form players by producing two leg cutters which toppled the stumps of Sam Billings (four) and Oliver Davies (two) as the visitors fell to 4-79 at the halfway mark of their innings.
Tall quick Billy Stanlake (four overs, 3-34) responded well after he was expensive early.
Batting wise, the decision to replace the departed Caleb Jewell (Renegades) with Chaudhary as Mitch Owen’s opening batting partner paid immediate dividends.
Although he has a power game himself, Chaudhary, full of confidence after making his first class debut with Tasmania’s Shield side, made 41 off 31 balls, which allowed Owen and Ben McDermott (38 off 24 balls) to launch around him.
After a brutal player of the match 108 off 42 balls in last summer’s decider, Owen (32 off 14) threatened to give the Thunder post traumatic stress disorder before he fell victim to a classy outfield catch from Daniel Sams off tweaker Tanveer Sangha.
Sams took the catch just inside the boundary, and held his balance enough to throw the ball back into the playing arena as before stumbled over the rope before completing the catch.
HAPPY AT HOME
The Hurricanes have now won eight straight games at their Ninja Stadium fortress.
When able to chase runs, which they prefer to do, they’re almost unbeatable in Hobart where the pitch gets better to bat on as night descends.
After they won the toss and sent the Thunder in, it was always going to be an uphill battle for the visitors to reverse the result of last year’s final.
WINNERS ARE GRINNERS
The Hurricanes wasted no time pull out a ‘flex’, with the BBL and WBBL trophies now safely in their possession displayed proudly on the sideline before the game.
Just three days after they joined their male counterparts of last summer in winning their maiden title by beating the Scorchers, the Canes’ women took in the action as the men began the defence of their crown.
