Hurricanes open title defence with tight win against Thunder

The Hobart Hurricanes commenced their Big Bash League title defense with a nail-biting four-wicket victory over the Sydney Thunder, the team they defeated in last season's final. The match, held at Ninja Stadium on Tuesday night, saw the Hurricanes chase down the Thunder's total of 180 for 6 with just one ball remaining.

The Hurricanes' top order fired, with Nikhil Chaudhary scoring 41 from 31 deliveries, Ben McDermott contributing 38 from 24, and Mitchell Owen adding a quickfire 32 from 14 balls. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. a flurry of wickets fell before they eventually surpassed the Thunder's total.

Needing four runs from the final over, the Hurricanes saw Matthew Wade (25 from 16) dismissed in the second-to-last over, increasing the tension. Daniel Sams, bowling the last over for the Thunder, began with a no-ball that sailed over wicketkeeper Sam Billings' head. With the scores level, Sams then bowled three consecutive dot balls, including a high bouncer that replays suggested was above Nathan Ellis' head. Ellis, however, kept his cool and struck the winning runs with a straight drive, securing the victory alongside Chris Jordan, whose unbeaten 16 proved crucial.

Billy Stanlake, who earlier claimed 3-34 for the Hurricanes, commented, "We could have probably run it down a little earlier. (But) there was always full confidence in the boys. You're never going to play perfect cricket first game. To get the win ... it's a nice start."

The Thunder were without David Warner, who was sidelined with a back injury but is expected to play against the Sydney Sixers on Saturday. The team may also be concerned about the fitness of Sam Konstas, who was struck on the arm by a Riley Meredith delivery while batting and did not field. Konstas, playing only his sixth BBL game, scored 28 from 25 balls.

In a scene reminiscent of last season's final, Mitchell Owen came out aggressively before being caught near the boundary by Sams off Tanveer Sangha's bowling. Chaudhary, opening with Owen, benefited from an early fielding error when Sangha and Oliver Davies dropped a catch.

Earlier in the match, after being put in to bat, Cameron Bancroft anchored the Sydney Thunder's innings with 61 off 44 balls. Shadab Khan (34 from 24) and Daniel Sams (23 not out from 11) provided late impetus after the Hurricanes had slowed the scoring in the middle overs.

The Thunder had a fast start, reaching 1-46 in the first four overs, with Matthew Gilkes scoring 20 off seven balls before being caught off Stanlake's bowling. Stanlake also took the key wickets of Bancroft and Konstas. Chris Jordan (2-36) bowled Billings and Davies with deliveries that swung back, giving the Hurricanes momentum. Rishad Hossain, a Bangladeshi spinner making his debut for the Hurricanes, was the most economical bowler, conceding only 18 runs in his three overs.