10:53pm That will be all from us for this game. There is lots happening in the cricket world currently, including the small matter of an IPL auction over in Abu Dhabi. Do hop over for all the live updates from there. Until next time, from Sudeep and myself (Shashwat), this is goodbye!

Chris Jordan, Player of the Match: At this stage, you just want to get over the line and get two points. Would have liked to finish it off earlier but the important thing is that we did finish it off. When I came on in the first over, I was trying to protect the short side. In the second over, we assessed and thought there was a bit in the wicket. Glad it paid off today. Hopefully we can go through the season and get on a run like last season, and hopefully the crowd can keep building too.

10:48pm Phew. That got rather tense. The Hurricanes, for most of the run-chase, seemed in control. Owen did the early running before that baton was taken over by Chaudhary. McDermott, David and Wade all played cameos but it boiled down to Jordan and Ellis in the final over. Sams erred with a No ball, and that proved to be pivotal as HH scraped past the line.

The Thunder did well to drag the game as deep as they did. They kept picking wickets post the Power Surge and that gave them a glimmer of hope. Ultimately, though, they just did not have enough on the board, and that is perhaps what let them down, despite a spirited bowling display in the back half.

19.5
1
Sams to Ellis, 1 run, Ellis seals the deal, finally! And the defending champions are underway! Back of a length on off. Ellis gets behind the line and shows the full face of the bat to punch it past the stumps. Ellis lets out a bit of emotion after hitting the winning runs. The Hurricanes have gotten the better of the Sydney Thunder again, and their title defence is off to an ideal start!

1 off 2

19.4
0
Sams to Ellis, no run, oh my - another dot! Back of a length outside off. Ellis tries to smash it into next week and only swats away a few flies in the process
19.3
0
Sams to Ellis, no run, zippy full toss on off. Ellis a tad late on it and he splices it towards cover

Some shenanigans towards the end here. Scores still level, and Hurricanes still yet to get past the finish line. For what it is worth, that ball was way over Ellis' head

19.2
0
Sams to Ellis, no run, oh - that was nearly a wide! Banged into the track on middle and off. Ellis swings like a rusty gate and misses. He wants the wide for height, but the umpires are not having any of it. But hang on. We are getting a review for something. Nothing on UltraEdge. Seems like the Thunder reviewed it, arguing it was a caught-behind. No provision to check the wide on DRS, so on we go!
19.1
2
Sams to Ellis, 2 runs, speared in full on middle and leg. Ellis smears it to deep mid wicket and races back for two. Scores level!
19.1
1nb
Sams to Ellis, 1 no ball, oh dear - you have got to be kidding me! The worst time for the ball to slip out of the hand. This goes a mile over Ellis' head and is collected on the full by the keeper. Ellis need a step-ladder to reach that

Last over coming up. Just four needed. Sams to bowl

END OF OVER:
19 | 9 Runs 1 Wkt | HH: 177/6 (4 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 9.31, RRR: 4.00)

  • Nathan Ellis2 (2b)
  • Chris Jordan16 (13b)
  • Nathan McAndrew2-0-21-1
  • Tanveer Sangha4-0-26-1
18.6
1
McAndrew to Ellis, 1 run, slower bumper on off that takes three business days to arrive. He waits and waits and waits before dragging it to long on

Frzi: "Did I hear John Cena's music after that boundary? Wow! Guess you can't see Jordan. Lol" -- Would take this moment to wish the legend happy retirement too!

18.5
1
McAndrew to Jordan, 1 run, slower delivery dug into the track outside off. Jordan swats it to deep mid wicket. Sams fumbles and Jordan wants the second. Ellis does not want to, though, and because Sams cannot get it back in time, Jordan can wander back from half-way. Crazy passage
18.4
2
McAndrew to Jordan, 2 runs, zipped in full on middle and leg. Jordan pumps it flat and hard to long on, and scampers back for two
18.3
4
McAndrew to Jordan, FOUR, what a shot under pressure! Shortish outside off. Jordan rises with the bounce and then crrrrrrunnnnchhhhesssss it between extra cover and mid off!
18.2
1
McAndrew to Ellis, 1 run, fullish outside off. Ellis chips down the track and flays it towards deep point

Ellis in at 8

18.1
W
McAndrew to Wade, OUT, nicked and gone, and this game turns again! Full and speared across the batter wide outside off. Wade goes chasing after it but all he manages is a feather through to the keeper. Wade will not be very pleased with that stroke, and the Hurricanes' lower order has now been exposed!

MS Wade c †Billings b McAndrew 25 (28m 16b 2x4 1x6) SR: 156.25

13 off 12. Hurricanes would ideally want to score a chunk of those in this over. McAndrew from over the wicket

END OF OVER:
18 | 9 Runs | HH: 168/5 (13 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 9.33, RRR: 6.50)

  • Chris Jordan9 (10b)
  • Matthew Wade25 (15b)
  • Tanveer Sangha4-0-26-1
  • Chris Green4-0-33-1
17.6
2
Sangha to Jordan, 2 runs, shortish outside off. Jordan swings himself off his feet and squirts it off the inside edge past the keeper. Short third, tracking it down, gets into a tussle with the ball too, and HH get two, despite Jordan and Topley indulging in some AFL mid-pitch
17.5
1
Sangha to Wade, 1 run, shortish just outside off. Wade stays leg side and cuts it towards deep point
17.4
0
Sangha to Wade, no run, flighted up full just outside off. Wade laces his cover drive but cannot get it past Topley at extra cover
17.3
1
Sangha to Jordan, 1 run, shortish just outside off. Jordan hops back and clubs it down to long on
17.2
2
Sangha to Jordan, 2 runs, length just outside off. Jordan gives himself room and threads it to extra cover's right. Saunters back for a brace
17.1
0
Sangha to Jordan, no run, back of a length on the stumps. Jordan hangs back and powers it towards the bowler, who gets into a bit of a tangle with Wade. Ball stopped, eventually
17.1
3w
Sangha to Jordan, 3 wides, length ball sliding down leg. Jordan does not get bat on it and the keeper fumbles too. Three bonus runs for the hosts

Sangha to bowl out too. Another wicket here will make it very interesting. 22 off 18

END OF OVER:
17 | 6 Runs | HH: 159/5 (22 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 9.35, RRR: 7.33)

  • Chris Jordan4 (6b)
  • Matthew Wade24 (13b)
  • Chris Green4-0-33-1
  • Shadab Khan4-0-36-2
16.6
1
Green to Jordan, 1 run, back of a length on off. Jordan has a stab at it and chunks it off the inside edge into the square leg region

23 off 19

16.5
0
Green to Jordan, no run, length on off. Jordan stays back and glances it towards short fine leg
16.4
0
Green to Jordan, no run, full just outside off. Jordan drills it towards extra cover

Hurricanes 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st48N ChaudharyMJ Owen
2nd61BR McDermottN Chaudhary
3rd15BR McDermottTH David
4th17MS WadeTH David
5th10MS WadeRehan Ahmed
6th17MS WadeCJ Jordan
7th13CJ JordanNT Ellis