Hobart are chasing 151 in Perth’s Boxing Day blockbuster to move to equal top of the Big Bash League ladder.
The Hurricanes were clinical in the field as they restricted the home side to 8-150 – despite the best efforts of Kiwi import Finn Allen.
Allen was at his brilliant best in his knock of 43 off just 23 balls.
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But the Scorchers will lament another failure to star Mitch Marsh and an inability to turn over strike late in the contest as their innings ground to a halt twice.
Sent in to bat, it was Marsh who looked like he’d finally found some form after a lean BBL run to open this series.
Two boundaries in the opening over and then an 83m six off Riley Meredith had Perth fans hopeful – but Meredith had the last laugh when Marsh (16 off 13) mistimed his pull shot and spooned it to Tim David.
In-form star Cooper Connolly came and went in just a few balls, but down the other end it was Finn Allen clearing the fence repeatedly – including in back-to-back balls off Rehan Ahmed.
But just as Connolly did earlier, Allen (43 off 23) pushed his luck and paid the price with Chris Jordan’s safe hands on the boundary.
Tim David replicated Jordan’s efforts with his own tippy toes on the rope to send Scorchers skipper Ashton Turner back to the dugout.
The Scorchers’ innings ground to a near halt in the 11th and 12th overs as Laurie Evans and Nick Hobson tried to regroup with their side 5-91 with six overs to play.
Evans’ decision to opt for the power surge turned the match back in Perth’s favour.
Together with Hobson, the duo put on a boundary clinic – taking 30 off just 10 balls in an entertaining run that included seven fours.
But once Evans (27 off 18) was stumped charging Rishad Hossain, Perth stalled once more.
Ashton Agar could only manage 5 off 11 balls late as Hobson departed first ball of the final over.
In the end, the Scorchers limped to 8-150 in what was described as a “below par score” by former Aussie star Mike Hussey.
Friday’s match started at 9.10pm AEDT from Perth Stadium.
Follow the match live in the blog below. If you can’t see the blog, click here
SQUADS
Perth Scorchers: Ashton Turner (c), Ashton Agar, Finn Allen, Mahli Beardman, Cooper Connolly, Brody Couch, Laurie Evans, Sam Fanning, Aaron Hardie, Nick Hobson, Bryce Jackson, Mitchell Marsh, Joel Paris, Corey Rocchiccioli
In: Corey Rocchiccioli. Out: Jhye Richardson (Australian Test Squad)
Hobart Hurricanes: Nathan Ellis (C), Rehan Ahmed, Jackson Bird, Nikhil Chaudhary, Tim David, Rishad Hossain, Chris Jordan, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Will Prestwidge, Billy Stanlake, Tim Ward, Mac Wright
In: Mac Wright. Out: Matthew Wade (injured)