Rishad Hossain struggled with the ball in the rain-affected clash against Melbourne Stars.
Chasing 26 runs in the final over, Marcus Stoinis smashed the first ball for a six but was dismissed on the very next legal delivery while going for another big hit. Hilton Cartwright then took charge, hitting two fours and a six in three consecutive balls to keep the contest alive. But with five runs needed off the final delivery, he couldn’t manage more than one run. In a thrilling finish, Rishad Hossain and his teammates walked off victorious.
In Wednesday’s Big Bash rain-shortened knockout against Melbourne Stars, Hobart Hurricanes clinched a three-run win under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.
Hobart now face Sydney Sixers in the Challenger match on Friday for a shot at the final.
Rain disrupted the match from the start in Hobart. The game was reduced to 10 overs per side. Batting first after losing the toss, Hobart Hurricanes posted 114 for 5.
Chasing the target, rain returned after just two overs, further reducing the match. Set a revised target of 85 in seven overs, Glen Maxwell and Melbourne Stars fell short at 81, giving Rishad and the Hurricanes a thrilling win.
Despite the excitement, Rishad couldn’t make much impact with the ball, conceding 24 runs in his two overs without taking a wicket.
The Bangladesh leg-spinner managed just a single dot ball in his 12 deliveries and was hit for two sixes.
In the fourth over, Joe Clarke launched Rishad’s first delivery over the ropes for a six. The next five balls went for just seven runs, finishing the over with 13 conceded.
Returning for the sixth over, Rishad gave away a single off his first ball before Sam Harper retired hurt. On facing his first ball at the crease, Maxwell took a double and then sent a slog sweep over the boundary for six off Rishad. The next two balls went for singles to Maxwell and Stoinis, and the over ended conceding 11 runs.
The final over brought heart-stopping action, and it was Mitchell Waugh who delivered the winning ball, sealing the match for Hobart Hurricanes.
