Image Credit- Getty
In order to secure a historic Big Bash victory, the
Hobart Hurricanes defeated the Melbourne Renegades thanks to a scorching 82
from Matthew Wade and some dramatic fielding restrictions.
Wade’s fifty-ball knock on Saturday night at
Blundstone Arena put his team past Renegades’ 183 for 5 with an over to spare
and six wickets in the sheds. Wade had missed a game due to back spasms. Wade
and Mac Wright, a late addition for Ben McDermott who suffered a blow during
training, shared a 140-run partnership.
Wright began the game as a support player but ended
with a 36-ball 63 that included five sixes and five fours.
After the power surge went for 39 runs and he faced
all 12 balls, he was caught trying to clear the fence in the 13th over. Wade,
who hit three sixes and nine fours in the 17th over, was caught in the deep,
but the damage was already done. After three games, the Hurricanes have a
record of 1-2, while the Renegades have lost all four of their games.
When Chris Jordan of the Hurricanes was called out for
a no-ball in the last over due to an erroneous pitch late in the Renegades’
innings, there was misunderstanding.
If teams fail to bowl their overs in the allocated
time, they can only have four fielders outside the circle according to
tournament rules.
urricanes’ Tim David told Fox Cricket he was under the
impression the team had not gone over time.
“I dare say if we were told we needed an extra
fielder in, we wouldn’t have bowled (with that field),” he said via the
on-field mic. “We were told the previous over the time on the scoreboard
was wrong and we had until 8.45 (pm).
“The scoreboard said 8.43 and we bowled it, and
it was a no-ball. Got to respect the umpire’s decision.”
Earlier, after being brought in to bat, imports
Quinton de Kock (38 from 22) and Joe Clarke (38 from 25) gave the Renegades a
flying start.
Aaron Finch (31 from 28) and Jono Wells (40 not out
from 24) steadied before swinging freely in the late innings. Finch was out for
the Renegades due to back pain.