Once again, Hurricanes Captain, Pete Handscomb, came out the wrong side of the bat flip, and the home team was sent into bat.
Despite looking in good touch in the first over, opener D’Arcy Short fell cheaply for 12 in the second over. However, this brough Dawid Malan to the crease, giving Hurricanes fans their first look at the world’s number one-ranked T20 batsman in person. Together with Ben McDermott, the pair piled on 82 runs, before McDermott was bowled by Billy Stanlake for 31.
Aided by an exciting cameo from Colin Ingram - who hit 26 runs off 12 balls at a strike rate of well over 200 – Malan went on to make the highest individual score of the day; 75 off 56 deliveries.
However, failing to capitalise off the power surge, with the Stars restricting the hosts to just 2-5 off the 13th and 14th overs, saw the Hurricanes finish their 20 overs with a total of 5-164 on the scoreboard – slightly under-par of what they would’ve hoped for, but enough to have a shot at defending.
The defence for the Hurricanes started well, with former Stars in Scott Boland and Handscomb combining to dismiss their old teammate in Marcus Stoinis (7 off 10), before Short chimed in with an insane direct-hit run out to claim the wicket of the ‘Spiceman’, Andre Fletcher for just 10. Then when Sandeep Lamichhane – in not only his first match of the KFC BBL|10 but also his first game for the Hurricanes – chimed in to dismiss Hilton Cartwright for 8, things were looking up for the ‘Canes.
However, Stars Captain, Glenn Maxwell, was seemingly in some sort of mood. ‘The Big Show’ put together an incredible innings of 70 runs off just 37 balls, which included 6 fours and 5 sixes. Maxwell was singlehandedly running away with the game for his side. Enter: Johan Botha. After three games as the X-Factor substitute, Botha’s inclusion in today’s starting XI proved inspired, claiming the wicket of Maxwell in the 14th over, and completely turning the momentum of the game on its head.
In the remaining seven overs, the Stars piled on just 26 runs whilst the Hurricanes took four wickets. This saw the ‘Canes come away 21-run winners, with Boland being named Player of the Match after finishing with figures of 3-22 off his four overs.
Both sides will now have a day to re-group before they meet again at Blundstone Arena on Monday afternoon.
Tickers are still available but must be purchased prior to arrival at the ground.