The Adelaide Strikers have put in a fifth consecutive win to knock the Hobart Hurricanes out of the BBL|11 finals, seizing victory by 22 runs at the MCG.
The Strikers recalled Test duo Alex Carey and Travis Head for the clash, the move paying immediate dividends with Carey opening the batting and smacking 67 off 45 balls.
He combined with fellow opener Matt Short – who knocked 89 off 48 balls and was later crowned Man of the Match – as the Strikers put on 145 runs for the first wicket.
Who else but Scott Boland 💜
— Hobart Hurricanes (@HurricanesBBL) January 21, 2022
We finally have a wicket and Carey has to go - the Strikers are 1-145.#TasmaniasTeam #BBL11 pic.twitter.com/RzsTg6hzQW
While the wheels fell off after the pair were dismissed, the damage had been done as Adelaide powered away to a total of 6-188 from their 20 overs.
Following on from their clash against the Stars, when the Melbourne side scored a record 273, the Hurricanes bowlers had now conceded 461 from their last 40 overs.
Scott Boland was among the best of the Hobart bowlers, his persistence of line and length paying off with an economy rate of eight runs an over off his four overs, the equal lowest of any bowlers across both sides.
In response, the Hurricanes were in big trouble when Ben McDermott and Matthew Wade were dismissed for single figures inside four overs.
Strong innings from Caleb Jewel (35 off 31) and Darcy Short (56 off 34), aided by cameos from Peter Handscomb and Tim David gave Hobart a chance, however continuous wickets meant there was too much left to too few.
Peter Siddle took 4/32 in his 3.4 overs when putting the squeeze on the Hurricanes batters, while fellow quicks Harry Conway and Henry Thornton also chimed in with two wickets each.
The stump cam never stood a chance! 😵
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 21, 2022
Four more Peter Siddle scalps has the @strikersBBL on their way to The Knockout on Sunday night #BBL11 pic.twitter.com/h6IZIgREDR
The Strikers were floundering midway through the season, but their continued resurgence of form will now see them line-up against the Sydney Thunder on Sunday night in a knockout final.