Returning to the Hurricanes’ squad from Test duties, Matthew Wade slipped right back into the captaincy role, however, with little success with the bat flip; losing it, and being sent into the field first.
It didn’t turn out to be the worst result for the Hurricanes, who managed to restrict the Scorchers to 4-80 by the 10th over drinks break. Amongst the four scalps to have fallen during that time included danger-players Jason Roy (20), Liam Livingstone (26), Colin Munro (5) and Mitch Marsh (7), on his first game back from injury.
The Scorchers managed to steady the ship in the second half of their innings however, largely thanks to handy contributions from Josh Inglis (58 runs off 35 balls) and Jhye Richardson (29 off 15). After their allotted 20 overs at the crease, the Scorchers sat at 8-179.
Nathan Ellis finished the innings the best of the bowlers for the Hurricanes, with career-high figures of 4-34.
Once again, it was a horror start to the Hurricanes’ innings with the bat, losing the wicket of the returned Wade on the final ball of the first over. When the hero of the Hurricanes’ last win against the Sydney Thunder, Ben McDermott, was dismissed for a duck in the third over, the situation wasn’t helped, and when Dawid Malan, departed cheaply three overs later, the Hurricanes were in dire straits.
However, when Pete Handscomb joined opener, D’Arcy Short, at the crease, the two quickly built up a handy 44-run partnership, as well as notching up a couple of personal milestones in the process. Handscomb notched up his 1000th KFC BBL run on his way to a well-made 30 off 16 balls, whilst Short reached his KFC BBL 2000-run milestone – becoming the first Hurricane to do so in the process.
Short fell just short of a half-century – dismissed for 43 runs off 47 balls – and from here is was left to Will Jacks and Tim David to steer the Hurricanes to victory.
Dropped down the order, Jacks thrived, smashing 21 runs off 15 balls, including three massive sixes. When he fell victim to fellow Englishman in Livingstone, however, the Hurricanes’ odds of victory grew ever slimmer.
Assisted by Ellis and the tailenders, David’s big hitting was what stood between the Hurricanes and victory. Twenty-seven off 19 – again, including three sixes – was a valiant effort from the former Scorcher, but when he was caught on the boundary off a borderline waist-high full toss – which was eventually deemed as a legal delivery - the Hurricanes innings was all but done.
In the end, the Hurricanes finished at 8-157 after 20 overs; 23 runs short of the desired winning total.
The Hurricanes will now re-group with a day off tomorrow, before facing the ladder-leading Sydney Sixers on Sunday. The match will commence at 7.15pm, and be broadcast on Channel 7, Foxtel and SEN. It will be also be available to livestream via Kayo Sports.