Owais takes Hobart past finish line

Afridi costly as Renegades lose again in Big Bash League.

Owais Shah’s whirlwind 49 off just 30 deliveries helped Hobart Hurricanes register a seven-wicket win over Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League.

Chasing 174 to win, Shah took his team past the finish line in the final over as all-rounder Shahid Afridi bowled a wide to give Hobart their fifth win in seven games of the tournament. Afridi, who conceded 46 runs in 3.5 overs, could only stand and watch as the England player hit a boundary before the wide took the hosts home. Earlier, Jonathan Wells gave Hobart a perfect start with a superb 72.

Melbourne managed 173 courtesy openers Aaron Finch and Brad Hodge’s 126-run partnership that laid the platform which went in vain.

Elsewhere, Mitchell Starc picked up three wickets as Sydney Sixers prevailed over Perth Scorchers by just one run. Chasing a competitive 177, a run-out off the final delivery of the innings sealed Sydney’s fifth win.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 19^th, 2012.