Hobart: Fast bowler Harris Ruff’s brilliant performance was wasted as the Hobart Hurricanes edged out the Melbourne Stars by three runs in a rain-affected knockout match at Bellerive Oval on Wednesday in Big Bash League (PBL) 15.
Batting first in a rain-affected match, the Hurricanes were reduced to 10 overs, 114-5.
The innings was anchored by Beau Webster’s fiery knock of 47 off 26 balls with 3 fours and 3 sixes.
Nikhil Chaudhary scored 24 runs off 11 balls with 3 sixes while captain Ben McDermott scored 12 runs off 7 balls including 2 fours.
As for the Stars, Haris Rauf was the pick of the bowlers, returning figures of 2/27 from his two overs. Glenn Maxwell, Tom Curran and Marcus Stoinis took one wicket each.
Rain intervened again at the break, reducing the Melbourne Stars’ target to 85 in seven overs.
In reply, Stars were restricted to 81-4. Joe Clarke scored 31 off 17 balls with 4 fours and a six. Hilton Cartwright added 15 runs from four balls including 2 fours and a six, while Sam Harper contributed 10 runs.
Riley Meredith led the Hurricanes’ bowling with figures of 2/19 from two overs, while Mitchell Owen picked up a wicket.
Notably, Hobart Hurricanes will now face the loser of Qualifier 1 between the Sydney Sixers and their opponents at the Challenger on Friday.
The winner of this match will meet the Perth Scorchers in the final on Sunday.