Melbourne Stars’ Harris Rauff (left) celebrates taking a wicket with teammate Glenn Maxwell during the PBL 14 match against the Sydney Sixers at the Sydney Cricket Ground on December 26, 2023 in Sydney. — Cricket Australia

MELBOURNE: Pakistan right-arm pacer Haris Rauf took two wickets in as many balls during the Big Bash League (PBL) 15 home match against Hobart Hurricanes at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday.

Raouf, who represents Melbourne Stars in the ongoing league, shone with the ball for the home side in their campaign opener as he returned a decent 2/33 from four overs.

In the penultimate over of his spell, the 32-year-old outfoxed England’s Chris Jordan and bowled a slow delivery at full length off, hooking the bat to play a lofted shot.

Harris struck again with the final delivery of his spell, fast bowled on length by the retreating Nathan Ellis and unable to time the ball, Kellaway took a sensational catch diving forward.

Another BBL hat-trick in sight, Haris lobbed a searing length delivery into the stumps but Bangladesh’s Rishad Hossain tipped it towards deep mid-wicket to deny the pacer the milestone.

His double strike in the last over, coupled with Peter Siddle’s economical bowling figures of 3/30, helped the Stars reduce the Hurricanes to 158/9 in 20 overs.

Meanwhile, when this story was filed, Stars were 60/2 in eight overs chasing the 150-run target against the defending champions.

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