Hobart Hurricanes beat Brisbane Heat by five wickets in the 36th match of the Big Bash League (BBL) at The Gabba, Brisbane on Thursday, January 16, 2025. (More Cricket news)
The match began with Hobart Hurricanes captain Nathan Ellis winning the toss and opting to bowl, which worked in their favor.
Batting first, Brisbane Heat posted a competitive 201/6 from their 20 overs, thanks to Marnus Labuschagne’s explosive 77 from 44 balls. The Heat were off to a fast start with Usman Khawaja racing to 23 off just 9 balls.
However, a superb slower ball from Nathan Ellis removed him, and the Heat soon found themselves in a mini-collapse.
In response, Hobart Hurricanes got off to an explosive start, with Mitchell Owen, promoted to open, leading the charge. Owen slammed three sixes, racing to 44 off 20 balls before he was caught.
The Heat were under pressure early on, as Caleb Jewell 76 off 49 balls steadied the ship with Nikhil Chaudhary in an 81-run partnership. Jewell’s beautiful cover drives and steady accumulation kept the Hurricanes on track, even after a brief wobble.
Jewell’s contributions with the bat earned him Player of the Match honors.
The match saw a dramatic turn when both Jewell and Chaudhary fell during the Power Surge. The Hurricanes needed 11 from the final over, but Wade and Jake Doran kept their cool. Wade, who had been quiet until then, became the hero, finishing off with a towering six off Xavier Bartlett's final delivery, securing the Hurricanes' stunning five-wicket victory.
They finished with 207/5. This thrilling seventh consecutive win all but secured a home final for the Hurricanes and kept the slim BBL finals hopes alive for the Adelaide Strikers, Perth Scorchers, and Melbourne Renegades.
