STAGS STORM PAST HURRICANES TO STAY IN THE HUNT
After defeats in their first two matches in their ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL) Central Stags chalked up a 16 run win in the final over to secure bragging rights over Trans-Tasman rivals Hobart Hurricanes XI in game 7 of the competition.
The Stags won the toss and batted first, making a commanding total of 167/4 - the highest total struck so far at Guyana National Stadium, Providence in this year’s tournament - largely thanks to half centuries from skipper Tom Bruce and Player of the Match Curtis Heaphy who remained unbeaten on 50 off 38 balls.
A tight team bowling and fielding effort from the Stags saw the Hurricanes lose regular wickets, they looked well out of the match at 62/5 in the 13th over before some boundary clearing resistance from the blade of Mohammed Nabi and Fabian Allen saw the Stags run them close in the latter stages.
After looking out of the contest completely, Mohammed Nabi hauled his side back into something like contention. The all-rounder slapped a muscular six over the offside boundary followed by two consecutive fours on either side of the wicket off the pace bowling of Blair Tickner in the 14th over to see the Hurricanes up to 80/5, needing 88 runs from the final five overs.
Odean Smith fell in the following over, stumped off the bowling of Jayden Lennox in an attempt to haul the increasingly improbable target closer. Allen arrived at the crease to join Nabi who was not going down without a fight. Three huge sixes in a row off Angus Schaw kept the game alive, leaving 64 needed off 24 balls and allowing the Hurricanes to believe an improbable victory could possibly be pulled off.
Tickner was picked off once again in the 18th over, 16 runs plundered off it saw the equation come down to 40 runs from the last 12 balls.
The 19th over saw Allen displaying his own power hitting and ability to clear the boundary ropes and find the stands, Matthew Forde was smoked for 3 sixes in the penultimate over costing 21 runs to take the match into the final over with 19 runs needed for a remarkable Hurricanes run chase.
Tickner held his nerve at the last, a smart return catch off the first ball of the final over to see the back of Nabi for 43 off 25 balls. Usama Mir was run out a couple of balls later and the game finally fell out of reach.
The defeat sees the Hurricanes drop points for the second match in a row and they have top of the table and home favourites Guyana Amazon Warriors lying in wait in their next fixture as the GSL heads towards its exciting final stages.
For match photos from this game. please click here. This can be used for editorial purposes. CREDIT: GSLT20/Getty Images.
