A stunning David Warner ton wasn’t enough to stop the Hobart Hurricanes from pulling off their fifth win of the season to go to the top of the Big Bash table in Sydney on Saturday night.
Warner scored an incredible 130 not out off 65 balls but the Hurricanes chase was equally as impressive led by Tim Ward who notched a stellar 90 off 49 balls for his first half century in the competition.
The 5-2 Hurricanes chased 4-205 with 13 balls to spare and six wickets in hand in an incredible display of run chasing.
Mitch Owen gave viewers memories of his century in last year’s Big Bash final with a rapid 45 off 18 including five towering sixes.
Owen and Ward combined for an opening partnership of 108 until Owen departed after skying a Daniel Sams (3-36) delivery in the ninth over.
Nikhil Chaudhary finished the game in style with 29 not out off 14 to seal the victory and put his side back to winning ways after a three-game winning streak broke last game in a loss to the Perth Scorchers.
Meanwhile the loss for the Thunder keeps them in bottom spot on the table with a 1-5 record and almost curtains on their season with almost everything needing to go their way now to qualify for finals now.
Dave Warner 6s
It is a devastating result for the Thunder considering they came back from none-for-two to post a strong total.
The Thunder have also now lost all three of their games at Engie Stadium this season in a disappointing record.
Thunder quick Daniel Sams took 3-36 but was expensive for his three overs. Chris Green led the Thunder bowlers for economy with 8.35 from 3.5 overs as all five other bowlers went for double digit economies with a high of 15.
The Hurricanes have now won their past six games against the Thunder.
Earlier, Nic Maddison (30 off 26) led strongly for the Thunder with the bat as Hurricanes bowlers Will Prestwidge (2-19) and spinner Rishad Hossain (0-29 from four overs) were the best bowlers for the visitors.
WARNER FIRES
Former Australian star Warner launched a stunning second Big Bash hundred to help power the Thunder to a strong 4-205 first-innings total.
The 38-year-old showing no sign of age smashed 20 boundaries in his unbeaten knock of 130.
It was the left hander’s ninth T20 century, which puts him just two behind second-placed Babar Azam (11) and leader Chris Gayle (22) for the most centuries in all T20s.
Warner’s ton came 14 years after his first in the competition in a huge moment for the veteran.
The 39-year-old proceeded to do the six-seven hand movements as part of his celebration towards his kids in the stands.
“It feels good to put 200 on the board,” Warner said on Fox Cricket during the innings break.
“If you kept your shape and you were positive, you could get 200.”
The former Australian star struck 11 fours and nine sixes in his epic knock. He hadn’t scored more than fifty in the campaign before Saturday night’s match.
PRESTWIDGE EFFECT
In for his first game of the season, Will Prestwidge couldn’t have asked for a better start.
The Hurricanes quick took two wickets from the first two balls of the game to get the Hurricanes off to a flyer at ENGIE stadium on Saturday night.
Prestwidge’s first ball caught the glove of Matthew Gilkes for a nice catch down the leg side from wicketkeeper Matthew Wade. The 23-year-old’s second ball then cleaned bowled Sam Konstas with the delivery seaming into middle and leg stump.
The lively start certainly made captain Nathan Ellis’ decision to bowl first a good one.
Will Prestwidge takes two wickets in two balls
MATCH PREVIEW
It’s little more than 11 months since Mitch Owen wrote himself into BBL history by scoring 108 from 42 balls to lead Hobart Hurricanes to a maiden title.
When the Hurricanes take on the team they vanquished in that decider — Sydney Thunder — on Saturday night, last summer’s breakout star will be aiming to snap an ugly run of form.
Owen has scored 28 runs in five BBL15 innings and been dismissed four times in single figures.
“Things happen thick and fast in the T20 landscape. I try really hard to make the boys feel like the numbers on the board, or their individual statistics, aren’t the way we define success,” Canes skipper Nathan Ellis said.
“Obviously he would have liked more runs than he’s got right now. But when you play the way he does he’s only one good night away from setting the world on fire.
The reigning BBL champion is also dealing with the season-ending injury to middle-order blaster Tim David.
“I think the important thing for us and something that we spoke about is, we’re not trying to replace a Tim David,” Ellis told Channel 7.
“I’m firmly of the belief that Timmy David is one of one in the world.
“We have just got to potentially restructure our batting line-up and we’ve got the cricketers there to play some good cricket.
“You’ve seen Nikhy Chaudhary, the poor bugger, go up and down the batting order already this year.
“He’s managed to go down to five, into Timmy’s spot, and flourish … we’ve got no shortage of personnel.”
Saturday night’s match starts at 7.15pm at ENGIE Stadium.
