Hurricanes semi-final hopes all but blown away by Scorchers

The Perth Scorchers have all but secured a home semi-final – and dealt a major blow to the Hobart Hurricanes – after winning a one-run thriller at Blundstone Arena.

In front a record crowd of 18,741 the Hurricanes stormed home in their run chase of 174 thanks to whirlwind knocks by Darren Sammy (28 not out off 12 balls), Michael Hill (23 off 15) and Jono Wells (20 off 10).

They needed 62 to win with 30 balls remaining and 16 off the last over bowled by Andrew Tye, who Macquarie Radio’s Summer of Cricket expert commentator Dean Jones rates as ‘one of the best death bowlers’ in Twenty20 cricket.

When Sammy blasted a six, the Hurricanes needed one more big blow to pull off what would have been a remarkable victory.

When Wells was run out, the Hurricanes needed six to win off the last ball. But Sammy couldn’t produce one more big blow, instead finding the boundary to fall one run short of sending the match into a super over and they finished on 6-172.

Earlier, Hurricanes captain Tim Paine scored his second half-century of BBL05 making 57 from 47 balls before he was bowled by Ashton Agar (2-38 off four overs).

The Scorchers’ innings of 5-173 was spearheaded by Michael Carberry, who returned to their line-up having scored just five runs in his only knock of the tournament against the Adelaide Strikers.

Carberry scored 62 from 35 balls while fellow Englishman David Willey belted an unbeaten 25 from nine balls – which in the wash-up proved crucial for the Scorchers.

Michael Klinger continued his consistent season, making 36 while Cameron Bancroft finished 26 not out.

Shaun Tait was the best of the Hobart attack, claiming 2-29 from his four overs in one of his better performances of the tournament.