Hurricanes seal home BBL Final with thrilling win over Heat

The Hobart Hurricanes confirmed they will host a home final when the BBL playoffs begin next week, doing so in dramatic fashion with a final-ball six to defeat the Heat on Thursday night in Brisbane.

Already favourites to win this year’s title across Big Bash bookmakers, Hobart now shorten their odds of lifting a maiden trophy to just $2.40 at BetOnline.

They had to work hard for their two points on Thursday, with Brisbane batting first and making an impressive 6/201.

International stars Usman Khawaja (23 from 9) and Marnus Labuschagne got the Brisbane Heat off to a strong start, with Matt Renshaw (40 from 25) partnering the latter after Khawaja fell in the fourth over.

Their 71-run stand was interrupted when Renshaw ran himself out pushing for a second run, and was followed quickly by the wicket of Max Bryant (4 from 8) as well.

But Tom Alsop (39 from 27) stopped the rot and put on a handy 85 runs alongside Labuschagne for the fifth wicket, with both batting through to the final over to ensure Brisbane cracked the 200-mark.

With live cricket betting odds sitting slightly in the Heat’s favour after their first-innings effort, Hobart came out and grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck immediately.

Caleb Jewell (76 from 49) and Mitchell Owen (44 from 20) combined for an 80-run stand at the top of the order, 17 of which came in the opening over.

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While Charlie Wakim fell for a second-ball duck after Owen exited in the seventh over, Nikhil Chaudhary (39 from 27) came in and made a strong contribution too, seeing Hobart through to the end of the 16th over.

The result was briefly in jeopardy when both Chaudhary and Jewell fell in the space of three balls with more than 30 runs remaining in the chase, but the Hurricanes’ middle order stood tall and got the job done.

With 11 needed from the final over, Matthew Wade (15 from 9) picked up a two then a single to put Jake Doran (8 from 4) on strike.

The keeper edged one fine for a boundary, before adding two of his own and running a leg-bye single, leaving the scores level and one required to win from the final ball.

Not one to deal in half-measures, Wade went for broke and swept Xavier Bartlett’s attempted yorker over deep square, clearing the rope to make it seven wins in a row for the Hurricanes.

Hobart’s victory ensures that however the final four matches of the BBL regular season pan out, they will host a home qualifying final next week.

It also keeps all teams alive in the race to qualifying, albeit with the Perth Scorchers ($51), Adelaide Strikers ($67) and Melbourne Renegades ($101) on lengthy odds to win the title at Marantelli Bet.

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