After the Brisbane Heat got over the Perth Scorchers in Adelaide, the Hurricanes knew that a win was the only answer to their finals hopes. And things started off well, when Captain, Matthew Wade, won the toss and sent the Renegades into bat.
Overall, the ‘Canes were excellent with the ball and in the field, restricting the Renegades to 5-150 after their 20 overs. Overcoming his personally disappointing performance with the ball in the Hurricanes most recent win over the Sixers, Riley Meredith returned to his best form with the ball, being the pick of the ‘Canes bowlers, with figures of 3-22 of his four overs, whilst Scott Boland and D’Arcy Short also chimed in with one wicket apiece.
After scoring 188 in their allotted 20 overs on the MCG deck just two nights ago, a score of 151 to win seemed achievable to the Hurricanes, assuming they were on their game, and openers Wade and Short got their innings with the bat off to a great starts.
When Wade was dismissed in the third over for 13 runs at a strike rate in excess of 200, things seemed steady with the score at 1-26. Even when Ben McDermott followed cheaply an over later, there wasn’t yet cause for the Hurricanes to worry. However, when Short was dismissed the second ball after the 10th over drinks break for 29 off 32 balls, the situation started to wane.
Dawid Malan – the eventual top-scorer for the Hurricanes with the bat, who made 34 off 36 – was the next to depart in the 15th over, and from here it was an uphill battle for the ‘Canes. Will Jacks (14), Pete Handscomb (19) and Tim David (14) all tried to contribute in vain, but it wasn’t enough, with the Renegades bowling was to economical and fielding was too tight.
In the end the Hurricanes finished with a total of 9-139; 12 runs short of the total for victory, as well as a finals berth.
The Hurricanes will now return home tomorrow and turn their attention to the Marsh Sheffield Shield and One Day Cup season, which are due to begin in mid-February.