BBL08 Match 11: Fielding Blunders Sway Result in Enthralling T20 Contest

‘Catches win matches’ is a phrase as old as cricket itself, and it once again raised its head in tonight’s BBL08 clash in Hobart where the butter fingers of the Hurricanes fielders allowed the Thunder to post a total batting first that was far superior than anything else so far this season, and then the Thunder did the same to leave both teams ruing the missed chances, and the final victor open until the final over as a result. What it did produce was the kind of T20 matches that everyone wants to see.

Joss Butler bossed the Thunder innings having been sent in with his wonderful stroke play, eventually falling for 89 from 54 deliveries, and it was his innings that anchored the Thunder as the other batsmen all made small quick contributions to the cause. He was dropped twice, the first of which was most costly as he was only on 12 at the time. It would have changed the match. There were also several misfields that led to boundaries coming from what should have been singles that boosted the score. Chris Green’s cameo of 26 off 14 deliveries at the end meant that the Thunder eventually set a massive chase after compiling 6/193. 

The Thunder showed the way to stifle the Hurricanes opening duo by bowling spin from both ends to completely diffuse the electrifying pair of Short and Wade, only allowing five runs off the first two overs. The danger was in how long to bowl them, and perhaps the change after four overs was too early. At just 27 runs off four overs it could have continued, especially when 15 and 14 came from the next two overs, the first ones of pace. The slow bowling success is likely to be replicated by future opponents. 

With the pressure released, the Hurricanes pair looked unstoppable until the unforgivable mix-up during an easy two cost Short his wicket and ended a terrific partnership of 120 off 12.1 overs. Short’s 58 off 39 deliveries had set the tone after the foundation start set, and Matthew Wade continued on, finally falling for 85 off 49 deliveries when his team had dragged it back to 28 required off 17 deliveries. He had been dropped when 74 was needed off 40 balls, and if that had been taken it would have been a tough ask, but his great striking brought the Hurricanes right back into it. 

Still, it took the celebrated Tasmanian veteran George Bailey to come to the crease to apply the finishing touches, with the help of two waist-high no balls in the last two overs. He bashed 23 not out from 10 deliveries to run down the total with five balls to spare and an amazing victory for the Hobart Hurricanes. Someone somewhere will explain to us all why it is that Bailey is not still playing for Australia. Every time he needs to produce to get his team over the line he seems to produce. That’s something we could use in the green and gold at the moment. 

It’s a big win for the Hurricanes and a slight setback for the Thunder, but these are currently the best two teams in the BBL competition and the finish – if not the fielding display from either team – was fitting for the contest.