Paine, Christian star as Hurricanes roll Heat
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A dashing knock by captain Tim Paine and perhaps a touch of inside knowledge from Dan Christian have helped the Hobart Hurricanes to a 20-run win over the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League.
Paine belted 87 runs off just 58 deliveries and carried his bat as the hosts reached 3-184 in their 20 overs at Bellerive Oval.
He produced six fours and four explosive sixes in an innings that included a 94-run partnership with star international recruit, Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara (43 off 31).
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The skipper quickly raced to 50 from 34 balls as former captain George Bailey (40 off 21) took the place of Sangakkara to offer support.
Acknowledging the Hurricanes’ first-round 95-run loss to the Sydney Sixers at the SCG, Paine said Tuesday was an important victory.
“We had a really poor first game so it was important our senior players stood up,” he said.
Paine, whose last Twenty20 appearance for Australia was in 2011, was also valuable with the gloves on Tuesday night, taking two catches behind the stumps, but it was Christian’s work in the field that shone brightest.
On top of his bowling figures of 2-22 from four overs, the former Heat all-rounder took four catches in the outfield, including a lofty outfield screamer, to help break down the visitors’ chase.
The Heat had started well, with Jimmy Peirson taking 24 runs off the first two overs before being dismissed for 29 off 19, but they never really looked in the game from that point on as the Hurricanes attack, led by Sam Rainbird (3-37) and Christian, took wickets at regular intervals.
Off-spinner Jason Floros was elevated to first drop by captain Chris Lynn and performed admirably, top-scoring with 42 off 23 before falling to Queensland team-mate Cameron Boyce (1-31).
Nathan Reardon was Brisbane’s next best with 41 off 32.
Most batsman fell to catches on the rope as the need for quick runs became increasingly desperate, but Lynn would be particularly disappointed by his three-ball innings that added just one run and a rash shot with the game still in the balance.