Big Bash League: Tait, Reed send Hurricanes third

Pacers dismiss three Thunder batsmen apiece in Hobart outfit’s 11-run win

Three wickets each by man of the match Shaun Tait and Jake Reed allowed Hobart Hurricanes to register an 11-run win over Sydney Thunder and go third in the Big Bash League table at the Bellerive Oval on Friday.

Being asked to bat first, Hurricanes got off to a shaky start as pacer Clint McKay, who finished the match with figures of 4-28, dismissed the first three batsmen — skipper Tim Paine (23), Ben Dunk (15) and Kumar Sangakkara (16) — within just 10 balls of his spell before claiming his fourth — Darren Sammy — in the last over.

However, George Bailey steadied the innings with his 29-ball 56, studded with six boundaries and two sixes, to take the Hurricanes to 163. He was ably supported by Jonathan Wells (27) and Sammy (18).





In reply, Tait got the home side off to a spectacular start when he dismissed South African legend Jacques Kallis (nought) and Shane Watson (nought) in the first over before dismissing Gurinder Sandhu in the 19th over to finish with figures of 3-16.

Reed also claimed three wickets, which included the all-important wicket of skipper Mike Hussey who looked all set to take the visitors all the way with his blitzy 71-run knock studded with 10 boundaries and a six, to finish with figures of 3-35.



Thunder’s Aiden Blizzard (23) and Ben Rohrer (20) were the only batsmen beside Hussey to reach double figures, while Hurricane’s Cameron Boyce claimed two wickets.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd, 2016.

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