D'Arcy Short stars in Hurricanes' thrilling three-run win

Despite Jimmy Peirson's 13-ball unbeaten 26, Brisbane Heat slipped to a heart-wrenching three-run loss to Hobart Hurricanes at the Gabba on Wednesday (January 10). The Heat franchise needed 13 off the final over bowled by Daniel Christian but the pair of Peirson and Brendon Doggett could collect only nine runs to lose the game. For Hurricanes, D'Arcy Short cracked a breezy 69-ball unbeaten 122 to propel them to a sizeable total of 179.

While chasing down a stiff target, Heat needed a good start. Sam Heazlett (45) and Brendon McCullum (33) shared a useful stand of 64 in just under 10 overs to give them a solid platform. McCullum, the captain of the side, was the first one to fall as he was dismissed by the legspinner Cameron Boyce.

Boyce and Short then picked up the scalps of Joe Burns and Heazlett as Heat were reduced to 95 for 3 in the 12th over. Jofra Archer, one of the stars of Hurricanes' fine campaign this season, plucked a sharp caught and bowled chance to dislodge Ben Cutting for just four.

Marnus Labuschagne (1) didn't last long, while Alex Ross (27) was given out obstructing the field. In an attempt to get back to the striker's end, he had moved to his left while sliding his bat, only for the ball to ricochet via his willow and onto the stumps. Initially, the third umpire was asked to check for the run-out before he adjudged it as obstructing the field.

With 49 needed off just three overs, Peirson thumped Clive Rose for a six and followed it up by hammering Jofra Archer for a couple more fours in the 19th over.The equation eventually came down to four off one ball but Christian held his nerve to prise out Doggett to ensure a thrilling victory for Hurricanes.

Earlier, Short reigned supreme with a string of shots to compose his third fifty-plus score of the season. The highlight of Short's innings was the way he crunched three boundaries off Mark Steketee in the fifth over and smashed Doggett for two sixes in the very next over. Even in the final over, he took a heavy toll off Steketee by tonking him for three more sixes to remain unbeaten.

Short's contribution to Hurricanes' total can be capsulised by the fact that the next highest score in the innings was Ben McDermott's 19. Hurricanes now have eight points and are placed fifth. Heat too have eight points against their name but as their net run-rate is inferior (-.392 to Hurricanes' .300) they slot in at sixth.

Brief scores: Hobart Hurricanes 179/4 in 20 overs (D'Arcy Short 112*; Ben Cutting 2-27) beat Brisbane Heat 176/8 in 20 overs (Sam Heazlett 45; Cameron Boyce 2-23) by 3 runs.