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HOBART: Defending champions Hobart Hurricanes kept their hopes of consecutive titles alive with a thrilling win over Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 knockout.
Chasing 85 as per the DLS method in seven overs, the Stars fell short in the final over despite Hilton Cartwright giving them hope.
Melbourne Stars chase started on a shaky note with opener Thomas Rogers sent back in the second over. He made four from six balls.
After an early wicket, Joe Clarke and Sam Harper steadied the innings with a 36-run partnership. The pair brought the total to 41 in 4.3 overs with Clarke’s dismissal derailing the chase.
The right-hander made 31 off 17 with the help of four boundaries and a six. He was soon followed by Harper (10), who could not get going and was eventually retired out.
Nonetheless, with 26 required of Mitchell Owen’s final over, Marcus Stoinis tonked the first ball for a maximum, followed by a wide delivery.
Stoinis was bowled on the third ball, which brought Hilton Cartwright to the crease with the Stars requiring 19 from four.
With an uphill task to climb, Hilton Cartwright revived hopes by striking the next two balls for fours and then smashing a length ball for six, leaving the equation to five off the final ball.
However, Owen held his nerve and fired in a wide yorker, from which Cartwright could manage only a single.
For Hobart Hurricanes, Riley Meredith picked up two wickets.
Earlier, put into bat first, Hurricanes racked up 114-5 in their allotted 10 overs.
Mitchell Owen was stumped in the first over for seven as Tim Ward and Beau Webster stabilized the innings with a brisk 30-run partnership.
Haris Rauf broke through for Stars with the wicket of Ward, who scored 10 from 10. The dismissal followed another quick wicket of skipper Ben McDermott, who departed for 12.
As a result, Hurricanes were reduced to 54-3 in 5.3 overs.
However, it was Beau Webster’s knock that held the innings together and laid a foundation for a winning total.
He was involved with a 37-run stand off 20 balls with Nikhil Chaudhary, which brought the total to 91 in 8.5 overs.
Chaudhary made 24 off 11 with the help of three sixes while Webster departed on the second last ball of the innings after top scoring with 47 from 27, striking three fours and three maximums.
For Melbourne Stars, Haris Rauf remained the standout bowler as he took two wickets.
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