The Hobart Hurricanes played their second game in Sydney against the Sixers on Friday night after yesterday’s game against the Sydney Thunder was abandoned due to rain. The Hurricanes journeyed to North Sydney Oval intending to make their journey to Sydney a successful one.
Sitting at 3 wins, 3 losses and a no-result, the Hurricanes were looking to return to Tasmania with a positive win-loss record. After Elyse Villani guessed correctly during the bat-flip, she elected to bowl and was looking to their bowlers to help restrict the Sixers to a low score. Two wickets to Heather Graham, and one wicket to Nicola Carey, who dismissed the always-dangerous Sixers Captain Ellyse Perry, set the Hurricanes up to help keep the Sixers to a chasable target.
After a solid 73 run partnership from Ash Gardner and Former Hurricane Chloe Tryon, Shabnim Ismail returned to the attack during the powerplay. She dismissed Tryon and Mathilda Carmichael before Heather Graham took her third wicket for the match and Gardner departed the innings with the Sixers at 6-114. Experienced New-Zealand batter Suzie Bates brought Sydney home strongly, as the momentum of the game flipped once again after the Hurricanes looked to be on top. At the end of their 20 overs, the Sixers were 8-166.
The Hurricanes innings did not have the greatest of starts with both openers, Lizelle Lee and Elyse Villani dismissed early-on. Nicola Carey and Bryony Smith’s wickets followed shortly after before Heather Graham and Naomi Stalenberg steadied the ship for the Hurricanes. Graham made 22 off 24 while Stalenberg made 36 off 22.
The 167-run target proved to be difficult in the muggy conditions, and the Hurricanes innings ended at the 16.4 over mark with the score at 9-109 with Shabnim Ismail unable to bat due to an injury she suffered during the bowling innings. The Hurricanes return to Hobart for a Monday night clash with the Sixers, looking to make amends for their loss tonight.