Spectacular Weatherland shines on return to maintain Strikers’ finals hopes alive

Adelaide Strikers 169 for two (Weatherald 80*) beat Hobart Hurricanes 167 for six (Wright 37, Boyce 2-17) by eight wickets

Weatherald, in at No. 3 for the injured Chris Lynn, was unbeaten as Strikers chased down 168 with 25 balls to spare and eight wickets in hand.

He whacked 9 boundaries and 5 sixes at Blundstone Arena on Thursday night time as he reached double figures for the primary time in 4 video games this season.

Weatherald handled Paddy Dooley with contempt, launching the spinner for 3 fours and 4 sixes together with a most to complete the sport. Dooley completed with figures of 0 for 53 from 2.5 overs.

The end result lifted Strikers from fifth to fourth on the ladder with 9 factors – one forward of Melbourne Stars. Hurricanes stay sixth, three factors adrift of the highest 4 with one sport to play.

“It is probably the best I’ve batted,” he instructed Fox Cricket. “I was sitting there thinking I wasn’t going to play again this year.

“I obtained a name at 12 o’clock at night time saying ‘you are taking part in’ and I believed … ‘Nothing to lose, could as properly exit and swing arduous’. It has in all probability been a few years brewing. I’ve been working actually arduous on my T20 cricket.”

Strikers will be sweating on the fitness of Lynn for their final regular-season game against Sydney Thunder on Sunday. Lynn, who pulled out with a hamstring twinge, told the broadcasters he was a slim chance of lining up against the Thunder.

The 33-year-old won’t be available to play in the finals as he will depart to play in the ILT20 competition.

It was the second time Boyce had tormented Hurricanes in three days, having taken 3 for 13 in a player-of-the-match performance in Tuesday’s win.

Mac Wright top-scored for Hurricanes with 37 from 27 balls before he was undone by Boyce in the 13th over to a line-ball stumping call from the third umpire.

Tim David, who has struggled for runs, hit a 10-ball 22 to present Hurricanes a lift late within the innings. They welcomed again Matthew Wade from again points however he solely managed 14 from 12 deliveries. Hurricanes had been sluggish out of the blocks, struggling to 68 for two after 10 overs.