Hobart crush hapless Thunder in BBL clash
Sydney Thunder’s appalling Big Bash League record plumbed new depths with a 73-run loss to Hobart Hurricanes representing the beleaguered outfit’s 19th consecutive Twenty20 defeat.
Set 168 to win after Hurricanes opener Ben Dunk (96) plundered the visiting attack, the Thunder never really threatened to upset the home side after losing trump card Michael Hussey for just two runs in the third over.
Ben Laughlin (3-8) and Cameron Boyce (3-25) finished with the pick of the figures as Hobart returned to form in a particularly one-sided affair.
Usman Khawaja (28 from 30 deliveries) played a typically classy knock but when he could only lift a Laughlin slower ball to Ben Hilfenhaus at deep cover, the Thunder had lurched to 4-50 in the 10th over and Hobart supporters began to celebrate on the hill.
The Thunder continued to unravel on a perfect afternoon for batting, dropping wickets at regular intervals in a performance reminiscent of their last-start capitulation against the Brisbane Heat.
Laughlin and Boyce rattled through the Thunder’s lower order as the match hurtled to a close in the 17th over to provide a significant boost in net run-rate for the home side.
The win is a much-needed shot in the arm for the Hurricanes who have struggled for consistency to this point in the tournament, but will now leapfrog Adelaide Strikers into fourth place on the BBL ladder with three fixtures to play.
Dunk’s damaging innings featured eight boundaries and five sixes, and if not for a late fightback from the Thunder attack the Hurricanes could have posted a total far closer to 200 on a flat Bellerive pitch.
The Thunder’s hopeless plight was best illustrated by a calamitous 12th over run-out.
Jason Floros (12) and Kurtis Patterson (11) were camped at the same end of the Bellerive pitch as Travis Birt nonchalantly whipped off the bails to send Floros packing, making it 5-64.