Match Center

Right then, we have found the first finalists of BBL 2024-25 and it will be Hobart Hurricanes who will host the Final as well. But we are still a couple of matches away from finding out who will join them in the summit clash. Next up, we have the Knockout game in which Sydney Thunder will be taking on Melbourne Stars at the ENGIE Stadium in Sydney. That game will be played on Wednesday, 22 January and will start at 2 pm IST (8.30 am GMT). However, you can join us an hour in advance for the build-up. Cheers!

Riley Meredith is Player of the Match for his impressive performance with the ball. He says that it was a gutsy batting performance from the team and they posted a good total in the first inning which was good on this surface and they had a belief in the group to defend it. Adds that he feels good after a match-winning performance and is excited to play at Ninja Stadium for the final. Talks about resting him that he does what the team needs from him. It is a big win for Hobart and the crowd. Concludes that the final would be unbelievable for sure as he is preparing for that. Concludes by saying that the training is going well for that match.

The Presentation ceremony...

After asking the Hurricanes to bat first, Sydney Sixers were treated to some ballistic batting in the first 3-4 overs but soon enough, they started to crawl back into the game by picking up wickets at regular intervals. Mitchell Owen gave the Hurricanes a fast start after which the likes of Caleb Jewell and Ben McDermott made a couple of forties but neither could accelerate. It was Tim David who played another quickfire cameo and took them over the 170-run mark. As for the Sixers, it was Jafer Chohan who remained economical and picked up a couple of wickets as well, helping his side to restrict the opposition to a par score. In reply, Sixers lost a heap of early wickets and the Hurricanes made sure that any chances of a comeback were blown away at the death.

Sydney Sixers came into the game missing the services of Steven Smith but had plenty of batting depth to chase this down. However, the likes of Josh Philippe, Jack Edwards and Moises Henriques made 1 run combined and that really hurt them at the start. Kurtis Patterson and Jordan Silk did everything to get things back on track but they were always a bit out of touch in terms of the required rate. Silk notched up a FIFTY after which Lachlan Shaw really turned things interesting with his boundaries but they left too much to do in the death overs and eventually fell short.

A master class in pace bowling from the Hurricanes and their skipper, Nathan Ellis is ecstatic with the win and rightly so too. It was super aggression right from the start by Riley Meredith and he was clocking around the 150-KPH mark regularly and sent Josh Philippe packing for a duck and then with the help of Cameron Gannon, reduced the Sixers to 5/3 inside the first 3 overs. The spinners couldn't quite get into the game but having the likes of Ellis and Chris Jordan to come after the frontline pacers is a big deal and that showed as well. The duo bowled the tough overs and Jordan simply nailed his deliveries at the death taking the Hurricanes over the line.

HOBART HURRICANES ARE BACK IN THE FINAL AFTER 7 YEARS! What a season this has been and the Hurricanes have put on another stellar performance with the ball to get into their third-ever BBL Final. Sydney Sixers will be disappointed but they have one more shot at making it to the grand finale, so, their season is still alive. And, we will be back at the Ninja Stadium in Hobart to host the BBL Final!

FOUR! But the Hobart Hurricanes have punched their tickets to the Grand Finale, for the first time in the last seven years!! A huge moment for the men in purple! Ninja Stadium goes wild with cheers and admiration from the crowd for their home team. Coming to the ball, Jordan offers this right in the slot and around on off, Dwarshuis clears the front leg, and lifts it straight down the ground. Beats long on to his right for a boundary.

SWING AND MISS! Good length, outside off, in the slot, Ben Dwarshuis swings hard at it and wants to go over cover but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Leg bye! A yorker, down the leg side, with pace, Lachlan Shaw tries to flick it but misses and wears it on the pads. They get a single for leg bye as the ball rolls away towards cover.

A low full toss, outside off, with pace, Ben Dwarshuis drills it but straight to mid off for a single. Sydney Sixers need 18 off the last 3 balls.

BUZZERS! 'Big Ben' had to hurry a lot there! Good length and at the stumps, Dwarshuis mistimes his shot in front of long on and calls for two right away. Runs the first one pretty hard and rushes off for the second. Meanwhile, the fielder in the deep, picks and throws it flat toward the keeper. Matthew Wade collects it on the bounce as Ben drags his bat inside the crease. Wade whips the bails off in a flash. The TV umpire confirms that the bat is just inside the crease. NOT OUT!

BEATEN! Slower length ball, outside off, Ben Dwarshuis swings hard at it but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Chris Jordan to bowl the final over. Sydney Sixers need 21 runs, conceding as many as 19 will do it for the Hurricanes. Will we see something special here? Let's find out...

Deception! Back-of-the-hand slower ball, outside off, on a fuller length, Lachlan Shaw is months early on his slog shot and misses it all.

Pitched up and across off, Ben Dwarshuis carves it away to deep cover for a single.

SIX! THUMPED! Goes fuller, around leg, in  the slot, Ben Dwarshuis comes forward, clears his front leg and thumps it over deep square leg for a biggie.