
The Hobart Hurricanes crushed the Adelaide Strikers by 37 runs in their Big Bash League match at Bellerive Oval. Playing in front of their home crowd, the Hurricanes racked up a solid 178 for 6. Then their bowlers, led by captain Nathan Ellis and Riley Meredith, wrecked the Strikers, holding them to just 141 for 9. This win puts Hobart in a better spot on the BBL table and proves they’re a team to watch this season.
Nathan Ellis stole the show, bowling two awesome overs for just 7 runs and grabbing 2 wickets. He was the obvious choice for Player of the Match. His smart captaincy, along with great bowling from Rishad Hossain and Meredith, made sure Adelaide never stood a chance after their bad start.
After being asked to bat first, the Hurricanes came out swinging. Mitchell Owen smashed 33 runs off just 9 balls. He hit a bunch of sixes and fours, putting the Strikers’ bowlers under pressure right away. His aggressive batting gave Hobart a quick boost that got the crowd excited.
Even though Owen got out early, he’d already done his job. Rehan Ahmed kept the pressure on with a quick 29 off 17 balls, while Tim Ward and Ben McDermott played well to support him. Later, Matthew Wade and Nikhil Chaudhary added some important runs, keeping the score moving despite good bowling from Tabraiz Shamsi and Jamie Overton.
Macalister Wright finished it off, staying not out on 20 and getting Hobart to a total of 178. It was a tough score to chase on this pitch, and the Strikers just couldn’t do it.
Adelaide needed a good start to chase 179, but they had a total disaster. Riley Meredith was too quick, getting rid of Matthew Short and Mackenzie Harvey quickly. Then Nathan Ellis took out Chris Lynn and Jason Sangha, leaving the Strikers in a terrible spot at 8 for 4.
The Hobart bowlers were all over them, bowling accurately and mixing up their speeds. The crowd loved every wicket, and the Strikers looked shocked. By the end of the first few overs, Adelaide were way behind, and their chances of winning were looking slim.
That awful start pretty much decided the game, even though Liam Scott played a great innings later on.
Liam Scott batted really well. He scored an amazing 91 not out off 58 balls, with six fours and five sixes. He hit some great shots, especially against the spinners.
Scott got to his fifty pretty quickly and kept fighting until the end. People praised his effort, calling him a lone warrior. But cricket’s a team game, and without any help, his great knock wasn’t enough.
The next highest score for Adelaide was only 11, which shows how little support he had and how much pressure Hobart’s bowling put on them.
Rishad Hossain was brilliant, taking 3 wickets for 26 runs. He changed his pace and angles, which troubled the Strikers. He got rid of some important players. Rehan Ahmed also grabbed a wicket, and Chris Jordan bowled well to keep the pressure on.
Nathan Ellis came back at the right times, using his slower balls cleverly. Getting Chris Lynn out was a big moment, and his calm leadership was clear. Riley Meredith’s pace, Ellis’s control, and Rishad’s spin gave Hobart a really good bowling attack that was too much for Adelaide.
Liam Scott’s 91 was his best score in T20 cricket, a great achievement even though his team lost. Nathan Ellis’s bowling was one of the best spells by a Hurricanes captain in BBL history. The Strikers’ terrible start was one of their worst ever.
Mitchell Owen’s quickfire 33 was one of the fastest knocks of the BBL season, and it helped Hobart get off to a great start. Their score in the first few overs was a big reason they won.
Nathan Ellis praised his bowlers and the team’s effort. He said the pitch was good for batting, but the Strikers’ spinners bowled well. He said it was important to stay positive when bowling and to take wickets, especially against key players like Chris Lynn and Matt Short.
Ellis was full of praise for Rishad Hossain, calling him world-class and praising his confidence. He said that having a strong bowling lineup gives the Hurricanes confidence.
Liam Scott was frustrated but proud of his own performance. He knew that the bad start made the chase almost impossible and said the team needs to support each other better.
Fans online praised Scott’s fighting spirit but criticized the Strikers for not building partnerships.
There weren’t any big arguments during the game, but a couple of DRS decisions got people talking. Some fans thought the umpires were strict, but the decisions were fair.
Another talking point was using spinners on a pitch that’s usually good for batting. Hobart’s decision to attack with spin paid off.
This win gives Hobart two important points and improves their chances of making the playoffs. With a couple of games left, this confidence could be key. They’ve got a good balance of batting, spin, and pace bowling, which makes them a serious contender for the title.
For the Adelaide Strikers, this loss is a setback. They need to improve quickly, sort out their batting problems, and build better partnerships if they want to reach the finals.
The Hurricanes were just too good. From Mitchell Owen’s explosive start to Nathan Ellis’s great bowling, everything went right for them. Liam Scott’s brave innings will be remembered, but Hobart won as a team.
The Hurricanes’ big win over the Strikers will be remembered as one of their best performances of the season. With good form, strong leadership, and great players, Hobart are looking like a team to beat in this year’s Big Bash League.
Venue: Bellerive Oval, Hobart
Toss: Adelaide Strikers elected to field first
Series: Big Bash League
Season: 2025/26
Match Date: 9 January 2026 (Night match, 20-over game)
Player of the Match: Nathan Ellis (Hobart Hurricanes)
Umpires:
Roberto Howard (Australia) – DRS
Troy Penman (Australia) – DRS
TV Umpire: Sharad Patel (Australia)
Reserve Umpire: Muhammad Qureshi (Australia)
Match Referee: David Johnston (Australia)
Points:
Hobart Hurricanes – 2 points
Adelaide Strikers – 0 points
| Bowler | Team | O-M-R-W | Economy | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nathan Ellis | HH | 2-0-7-2 | 3.50 | 2 (Lynn, Sangha) |
| Rishad Hossain | HH | 4-0-26-3 | 6.50 | 3 (Manenti, Overton, Wood) |
| Riley Meredith | HH | 3-1-16-2 | 5.33 | 2 (Short, Harvey) |
| Jamie Overton | AS | 2-0-13-2 | 6.50 | 2 (McDermott, Chaudhary) |
| Tabraiz Shamsi | AS | 4-0-19-1 | 4.75 | 1 (Ward) |
| Luke Wood | AS | 4-0-48-2 | 12.00 | 2 (Owen, Wade) |
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