Caleb Jewell's fifty steers Hurricanes to victory in a thriller

Caleb Jewell in action [Source: Twitter]

Another fifty and another scintillating knock from Caleb Jewell ensures victory for Hobart Hurricanes. But not before a minor hiccup as they won the game by 2 wickets.

How things panned out

Hurricanes won the toss and the decision to bowl first paid dividend the Stars lost two wickets inside the power-play. Joe Clarke (4) and Thomas Rogers (2) couldn't get going and that put the pressure on the middle order.

Hilton Cartwright and Beau Webster led the fightback for the Melbourne based side. But it wasn't the most eye-pleasing partnership as the duo struggled for timing and couldn't get going at will.

Webster eventually departed for a scratchy looking 27 off 35, and the little momentum that they had shifted towards the Hurricanes.

Perhaps Faheem Ashraf got the most crucial wicket of the day in the form of Cartwright. He miscued an attempted pull shot and the top-edge was taken safely by Ben McDermott.

Wickets started to tumble at regular intervals and the Stars never got the momentum they needed. Eventually a late flourish from James Seymour (20 off 7) took the Stars to 131 for 7.

Hurricanes faltered in their chase after losing the early wicket of McDermott. But Caleb Jewell, who has been the man in-form for the Hurricanes resurrected the innings and started the repair work alongside Zak Crawley.

With Crawley struggling at one end, Jewell took the onus and was the aggressor in the partnership.

With Jewel at the crease, things looked calm in the Hurricanes dressing room. For a while it seemed Jewell was batting on a different surface altogether as he scored a blistering 44-ball 70. But once he departed, all thanks to Liam Hatcher, things took a U-Turn for them.

Suddenly the panic button was on and wickets crumbled like a pack of cards. Stars were back in the game, and there were few nervy faces in the Hurricanes dugout. From 121 for 5 to 129 for 8, Hurricanes lost a flurry of wickets, but kept their nerves to steal the win with 14 balls to go.

Brief Score

Melbourne Stars: 131-7 (20)

Hilton Cartwright 57 (47), Beau Webster 27 (35);

Nathan Ellis 2-12 (4), Riley Meredith 2-25 (4)

Hobart Hurricanes: 133-8 (17.4)

Caleb Jewell 70 (44), Zak Crawley 30 (34);

Liam Hatcher 3- 25 (4), Nathan Coulter-Nile 2-22 (3)

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