KFC BBL06: Hobart Hurricanes v Melbourne Stars

In their first game of the season, the Melbourne Stars have defeated the Hobart Hurricanes by 7 wickets in front of 18,079 fans at Blundstone Arena. Defending 188 runs, the Hurricanes couldn’t contain the firepower of the Stars batting lineup, Wright (48), Quiney (75) and Maxwell (58) doing the majority of the damage. It’s the first loss of the season for the Hurricanes.

Click play to hear all the 2nd Innings highlights and full match analysis from Tony Leonard and Greg Matthews.

 

1st Innings: Hobart Hurricanes 4/188 after 20 overs.

The Melbourne Stars need 189 runs for victory as they chase their first win of the BBL season. The Hurricanes were put on the ropes early, Ben Hilfenhaus doing the damage bowling in-form young gun D’Arcy Short (1) then the very next ball bowling Michael for a duck. Hilfenhaus couldn’t manage the hat-trick, the experienced Sangakkara getting off the mark, but it didn’t last long, playing an ill-timed shot off the bowling of Maxwell into the safe hands of Faulkner. It was captain Tim Paine who stole the show smashing 91 off 60 balls including 11 fours and 1 six to get the Hurricanes back in the game, a true captains knock. George Bailey gave solid support finishing with 74* off 46. Hilfenhaus the pick of the Stars bowlers finishing with 3/38 from 4 overs.

Click play to hear all the 1st Innings highlights and analysis from Tony Leonard and Greg Matthews.

The Hobart Hurricanes have won the toss and elected to bat first.

The KFC Big Bash continues at Blundstone Arena tonight with the Hobart Hurricanes playing host to the Melbourne Stars in a Boxing Day Blockbuster.

It’s the season opener for the Melbourne Stars and they’ll want to get their KFC Big Bash campaign underway with a victory when they face off against a Hobart Hurricane side who are coming fresh off a 60-run win against the Sydney Sixers.

The Melbourne Stars were last season’s runners-up and will want to go one better this season, they go into the match without international-signing Kevin Pietersen who’ll return for the Stars for their New Year’s Day blockbuster against the Renegades. Young-gun D’Arcy Short impressed in the Hurricanes first game win of the season belting 61 from just 28 deliveries and will be hoping that forms continues in front of a home crowd in Hobart.

Click play to hear captains Tim Paine and David Hussey with their thoughts ahead of tonight’s Boxing Day Blockbuster.

 

Hobart Hurricanes Squad

Paine (c), Christian, Boyce, Bailey, Broad, Kingston, Michael, Rose, Sangakkara, Short, Tait.

Melbourne Stars Squad

Hussey (c), Beer, Boland, Faulkner, Harper, Hilfenhaus, Maxwell, Quiney, Stoinis, Wright, Zampa