The Hobart Hurricanes came undone in extraordinary scenes on Friday night as Beau Webster clashed with teammates and Ricky Ponting lamented some of the ‘terrible’ shots played by the defending BBL cricket champions. The Sydney Sixers advanced to play the Perth Scorchers in Sunday’s final after a 57-run thrashing of the Hurricanes on Friday night.
Steve Smith was again the star for the Sixers, making 65 off 43 balls as the Sydney side made 8-198. The Hurricanes were then bowled out for 141 in the 18th over to end their season and title defence.
Beau Webster (L) got frustrated with teammates as Ricky Ponting bemoaned the Hobart Hurricanes’ batting (R). Image: Getty/Channel 7
Frustrations boiled over in the Hurricanes’ fielding innings when Webster was captured having some choice words with teammate Mitch Owen. The Test player appeared to be unhappy that Owen had stayed inside the circle rather than going back to the boundary on the second-last ball of Webster’s over, which went for a boundary.
After the final ball of the over, Webster could be heard asking Owen: “How many games have you played?” Hurricanes veteran Matthew Wade tried to smooth things over, telling Webster: “I didn’t tell him to stay in.”
Adam Gilchrist pointed out in commentary that Owen might have forgotten the game-plan and should have known where he was meant to be without having to be told. But he said it was “not a good look” for Webster to be jawing at him.
“His point is a valid one in that everyone out there…you don’t need a captain’s arm-band on to be a captain,” Gilchrist said. “You can make decisions for yourself by thinking about the game and what the situation is. Mitch Owen probably should have been aware that with a couple of balls left in the over, I probably need to go back if that’s the team’s plan.
“Probably not the way to play it out in front of the opposition though. It’s not a great way to handle it. I’m sure he (Webster) will apologise.”
Beau Webster wasn’t happy with Hurricanes teammate Mitch Owen. Image: Channel 7
Ricky Ponting laments Hurricanes’ ‘terrible’ batting
The Hurricanes never really looked likely of chasing down the big target, with wickets falling at regular intervals. Owen fell while playing a big shot against Mitchell Starc, right after Ponting implored him not to get out to the Test superstar by doing something silly.
Ponting then described Nikhil Chaudhary’s dismissal as a “terrible ball to get a wicket off” after he chased what would have been a wide from Joel Davies and fell for just 4. And Webster was another who played a questionable shot, trying to hoik a ball that was well outside off-stump to the leg-side and holing out. Webster struggled for 24 off 27 balls before he perished, and the Hurricanes never got going.