HOBART, Tasmania, CMC – Barbadian seamer Jofra Archer’s brace helped resurgent Hobart Hurricanes to their fifth win of the Big Bash League, as they cooled Brisbane Heat by six wickets here yesterday.
Playing at the Bellerive Oval, the hosts restricted Heat to 165 off their 20 overs and then chased down their target with 10 balls remaining, to go third in the BBL standings on 10 points behind leaders Perth Scorchers and second-placed Adelaide Strikers.
Opting for first knock, Heat were propelled by captain Brendon McCullum’s top score of 51 off 38 deliveries while Joe Burns struck 38 from 24 balls.
The pair put on 59 for the second wicket to steady the innings after Sam Heazlett fell cheaply for five in the opening over with six on the board.
Well placed on 160 for six at the start of the final over, Heat’s hopes of an expensive last six deliveries were dashed as Archer produced a suberb over costing just five runs and yielding two wickets.
The 22-year-old right-armer knocked over Cameron Gannon (9) with a short ball which the batsman could only stab to cover, before bowling Mark Steketee (5) with the final ball of the innings to finish with two for 32 from his four overs.
In reply, opener D’Arcy Short extended his excellent run of form with 59 off 49 deliveries while Ben McDermott slammed an unbeaten 32 of 19 balls, to see Hurricanes over the line.
Archer, who plays for Sussex in the English County Championship, has taken 11 wickets from seven matches for Hurricanes and has emerged as one of the fan favourites in the BBL.