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DARWIN: Nick Hobson 59 off 43 balls, followed by Keaton Critchell’s hat-trick, powered Perth Scorchers Academy to a victory over Pakistan in the first semi-final of the Top End T20 series here at Garden Ovals on Sunday.
Perth Scorchers Academy, sent into bat by the Pakistan Shaheens, found themselves in dire straits early on, slipping to 69 for 6 within the first 10 overs.
A revival was sparked by Teague Wyllie, who charged to a sparkling 29 off 16 balls, setting the stage for a pivotal stand.
However, emerged in Nick Hobson, who anchored the innings with a resolute 59 off 43 deliveries—featuring seven fours and two sixes—and was ably supported by Matthew Kelly, who added a valuable 23 off 19 balls.
The duo steadied the ship, guiding the Scorchers Academy to a respectable total of 155 for 8 in their allocated 20 overs.
For Pakistan, Shaheens Saad Masood, Mohammad Wasim, and Mehran Mumtaz stood out with the ball, each chipping in with crucial breakthroughs to keep the pressure alive.
Chasing a challenging target of 156, the Pakistan Shaheens lost early wickets and crumbled under pressure.
At just 11 overs in, Keaton Critchell turned the contest on its head by claiming a sensational hat-trick, dismissing Mubasir Khan, Saad Masood, and Mehran Mumtaz in successive deliveries.
He finished with figures of 3 for 13 from three overs, while Matthew Kelly and Bryce Jackson provided valuable support, each picking up two wickets to seal a crushing victory.
The Shaheens were bundled out for 107 in just 17.1 overs, handing the Scorchers Academy a dominant 48-run win and sending them into the final.
READ: Harvey’s unbeaten century powers Adelaide Strikers into Top End T20 semis
