Hobart beat Strikers despite Lynn blitz

Ethan James | January 2, 2023

The Hobart Hurricanes have overcome a brutal knock from resurgent Big Bash League blaster Chris Lynn to notch a crucial win over the Adelaide Strikers.

Lynn hit a 58-ball 87 on Monday night at Blundstone Arena, his highest score of the summer, as the Strikers posted 6-177.

The innings was enough to make Lynn the tournament’s leading scorer, but not to beat the Hurricanes who responded in kind.

Openers Caleb Jewell (54 from 28 balls) and Ben McDermott (53 from 33) got the chase off to a flying start with an 86-run partnership off 49 balls.

Jewell, named player of the match, opened ahead of Matthew Wade and D’Arcy Short.

He clobbered four sixes, including one off gun spinner Rashid Khan (1-43 from four overs) who was unusually expensive.

Short and Tim David both finished unbeaten on 27, guiding the Hurricanes to 3-178 with 16 balls to spare.

“It was probably the first time (this season) we’ve put 40 overs together. It was nice to get it all together,” Jewell said.

“Hopefully after (the win) we can move forward. Hopefully this is the start of a bit of a run for us.”

Jewell was a late inclusion after Shadab Khan pulled out with a finger problem.

“For balance we dropped D’Arcy (Short) down the order and that gave me a bit more of a licence at the top,” Jewell said.

The win, the Hurricanes’ third from six matches, lifts them off the bottom of the table.

The Strikers, meanwhile, have lost four straight after a 3-0 start to the tournament. 

Lynn, who was let go by the Brisbane Heat in the off-season, earlier whacked nine boundaries and three sixes after the Strikers won the toss and elected to bat.

He fell in the final over to a sharp outfield catch from Jewell off the bowling of young seamer Mitch Owen.

Lynn shared a 72-run partnership with Matthew Short (38 from 26 balls) after the loss of opener Henry Hunt early.

He upped the ante late alongside New Zealand import Colin de Grandhomme (30 from 18), who provided a cameo.

Lynn took a particular liking to Short in the 14th over, hitting two fours and a six in an over that went for 16 runs.

Spinner Patrick Dooley was the most economical Hurricanes bowler, going for 25 runs from his four overs and also picking up the wicket of Adam Hose.

The Strikers, who opted to rest the tournament’s leading wicket-taker Henry Thornton, could have an injury concern with Peter Siddle appearing to bowl in pain.