Cric Zone 360

Hurricanes vs Strikers, 28th Match: Hobart Win by 37 Runs | BBL 2025/26

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.

Hobart’s Blazing 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.

Strikers Fall Apart

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 Fights Alone

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.

Hobart’s Spinners Seal the Win

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.

Match Highlights

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.

What They Said After the Game

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.

Talking Points

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.

What This Means for the Hurricanes

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.

Final Word

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

BBL 2026 - Hurricanes vs Strikers Scorecard
BIG BASH LEAGUE 2026 - MATCH 28
Hobart Hurricanes vs Adelaide Strikers • Bellerive Oval, Hobart
January 09, 2026 • Night Match • BBL Season 2025/26
Hobart Hurricanes won by 37 runs • Hurricanes 178/6 • Strikers 141/9 (20 ov)
MATCH SUMMARY
HOBART HURRICANES
Innings:
178/6 (20 overs)
Top Scorer:
Mitchell Owen - 33 (9 balls)
Best Batting SR:
Mitchell Owen - 366.66
Best Bowler:
Nathan Ellis - 2/7 (2 overs)
Points:
2 (1st in BBL Table)
ADELAIDE STRIKERS
Innings:
141/9 (20 overs)
Top Scorer:
Liam Scott - 91* (58 balls)
Best Batting SR:
Liam Scott - 156.89
Best Bowler:
Jamie Overton - 2/13 (2 overs)
Points:
0 (5th in BBL Table)
KEY MATCH FACTS
Batting Highlights
• Mitchell Owen: 33 (9b, 2x4, 4x6)
• Rehan Ahmed: 29 (17b, 2x4, 2x6)
• Matthew Wade: 27 (19b, 2x4, 1x6)
• Nikhil Chaudhary: 23 (17b, 2x4, 1x6)
• Liam Scott: 91* (58b, 6x4, 5x6)
Bowling Highlights
• Nathan Ellis: 2/7 (2 overs)
• Rishad Hossain: 3/26 (4 overs)
• Riley Meredith: 2/16 (3 overs)
• Jamie Overton: 2/13 (2 overs)
• Luke Wood: 2/48 (4 overs)
• Tabraiz Shamsi: 1/19 (4 overs)
Match Records
• Mitchell Owen: 33 off 9 balls
• Liam Scott: Career-best 91*
• Riley Meredith: Double-wicket maiden
• Strikers: 8/4 in first 3 overs
• Powerplay: 55/1 (Hurricanes)
• Powerplay: 19/4 (Strikers)
Player of the Match
• Nathan Ellis (HH)
• Bowling: 2/7 (2 overs)
• Economy: 3.50
• Captaincy: Tactical masterclass
• Impact: Early breakthroughs
Umpiring & DRS
• Umpires: Roberto Howard, Troy Penman
• TV Umpire: Sharad Patel
• Match Referee: David Johnston
• DRS Reviews: 2 attempted
• Successful: 1/2
Match Context
• Toss: Strikers elected to field
• Venue: Bellerive Oval, Hobart
• Match Type: Night (20-over)
• Result: Hurricanes won by 37 runs
• Series: BBL 2025/26
DETAILED INNINGS BREAKDOWN
Hurricanes Innings (178/6): Owen 33(9), Ahmed 29(17), Wade 27(19), Chaudhary 23(17)
Powerplay 1: 55/1 (Hurricanes - explosive start)
Strikers Innings (141/9): Scott 91*(58), Wood 11(16), rest all single digits
Powerplay 1: 19/4 (Strikers - disastrous start)
Turning Point: Meredith's double-wicket maiden (2nd over)
Key Partnership: 50-run 6th wicket stand (Wade 26, Wright 20)
Match Winner: Hurricanes' powerplay bowling (19/4)
PLAYER PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS
NATHAN ELLIS (HOBART HURRICANES)
Player of the Match • Captain
Bowling: 2/7 (2 overs) - Economy: 3.50
Wickets: Chris Lynn & Jason Sangha
Captaincy: Tactical masterclass, excellent field placements
Impact: Early double strike broke Strikers' chase
LIAM SCOTT (ADELAIDE STRIKERS)
Man of the Fight • Career-best innings
Batting: 91* (58 balls, 6x4, 5x6) - SR: 156.89
Next highest: 11 (Luke Wood)
Context: Lone warrior, scored 64.5% of team's runs
Record: Career-best T20 score
MITCHELL OWEN (HOBART HURRICANES)
Powerplay Destroyer
Batting: 33 (9 balls, 2x4, 4x6) - SR: 366.66
Impact: Set explosive platform in powerplay
Partnership: 42-run opening stand in 2.3 overs
Bowling: 1 over for 15 runs
MATCH FLOW TIMELINE
Powerplay 1 (Hurricanes) 55/1 (Explosive start by Owen)
2.3 overs Owen dismissed after quickfire 33
13.3 overs Hurricanes 122/4 (Chaudhary out)
20 overs Hurricanes finish 178/6
Powerplay 1 (Strikers) 19/4 (Disastrous collapse)
2.3 overs Strikers 7/3 (Meredith's double-wicket over)
9.4 overs Strikers 62/7 (game effectively over)
20 overs Strikers finish 141/9, lose by 37 runs
BOWLING PERFORMANCE COMPARISON
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)
MATCH DETAILS & CONTEXT
Match Information
• Toss: Adelaide Strikers (elected to field)
• Venue: Bellerive Oval, Hobart
• Match Date: January 09, 2026
• Match Type: Night (20-over)
• Match Number: BBL Match 28
Team Lineups
• Hurricanes: Ward, Owen, Ahmed, McDermott, Chaudhary, Wade (wk), Wright, Jordan, Ellis (c), Rishad, Meredith
• Strikers: Short (c), Lynn, Harvey (wk), Sangha, Scott, Manenti, Overton, Wadia, Wood, Pope, Shamsi
Key Statistics
• Total Runs: 319 runs scored
• Total Wickets: 15 wickets fell
• Run Rate: 7.98 runs per over
• Sixes: 18 sixes hit in match
• Boundaries: 34 fours + 18 sixes
COMMENTARY HIGHLIGHTS
Nathan Ellis (Post-match): "We walked out thinking we were 25-30 short. Credit to our spinners, they've been brilliant. Rishad took it with both hands with a smile on his face."
Key Insight: "The Powerplay proved decisive for both teams. Owen ignited Hurricanes' start, while Hobart seamers rattled Strikers' top order."
Fan Comment: "Scott just showing this was chaseable if he'd had a couple of mates. Hugely frustrating night."
Shadow-Shell: "This is proof that cricket is a team sport. Scott scored 91 - 58 more than opposite team's highest - but next highest in his team was 80 runs lower."
Match Summary: "Riley Meredith set the standard with a brilliant double-wicket maiden. Strikers' chase was in shambles immediately at 8/4 within first three overs."
Picture of Hamza Imran
Hamza Imran

Stay informed with the latest, most reliable news and updates—fresh on our site.

Search
Recent Post
Article Topics
Newsletter

Sign up to get Latest Updates

Sign up to receive the latest news, updates, and insights directly to your inbox.