CRICKET
Archer and Short put on a show as Hurricanes reach semi-finals
Jofra Archer took a stunning catch and D'Arcy Short produced another blitz as Hobart Hurricanes became the first team to qualify for the Big Bash League semi-finals with a nine-wicket thrashing of Brisbane Heat.
All-rounder Archer took one of the grabs of the tournament on the boundary to remove Max Bryant as the Heat got off to a dreadful start at Blundstone Arena on Tuesday.
Alex Ross (62) and Jimmy Peirson (50) dragged the second-bottom Heat from 27-4 to post 145-6, with Archer, James Faulkner and David Moody taking two wickets apiece.
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That was nowhere near enough, though, as the leaders got home with 34 balls to spare courtesy of an unbroken stand of 132 between BBL leading run-scorer Short (68 not out) and Caleb Jewell (61no).
Nine victories out of 11 have seen the Hurricanes through to the last four with three matches to spare, while Brisbane are unlikely to join them.
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 29, 2019
ATHLETIC ARCHER SETS THE TONE
Archer showed incredible athleticism to dismiss Bryant, casually reaching out with his right hand to pluck the ball, then tossing it up in the air before his feet touched the ground beyond the ropes and leaping back to take the catch.
"I thought it was going for six, I was running around the boundary to pick the ball up until the last moment," said the paceman.
Archer (2-28) also saw the back of the dangerous Chris Lynn (10) and snared Matt Renshaw first ball as the Heat slumped to 27-4.
ROSS AND PEIRSON TO THE RESCUE
Brisbane folded to 98 all out in a hammering at the hands of the Sydney Sixers last week and they were in danger of being skittled out for another embarrassing total after a poor Power Play.
Ross and Peirson came to the rescue with a stand of 109, both batsmen striking Short over the ropes in the 13th over as they added some much-needed acceleration.
Struggling Short was struck for three consecutive boundaries by Ross in another expensive over before his 35-ball knock was ended by Moody and Faulkner dismissed Peirson after the wicketkeeper had launched him for six over long-on.
SHORT GOES BIG AGAIN WITH SUPPORT FROM JEWELL
Short went for 31 from his two overs, but the opener responded with another devasting half-century with the bat.
He passed 50 for the sixth time in the tournament, hitting Mujeeb Ur Rahman over the boundary and striking eight fours after Matthew Wade fell in the second over.
Jewell also came to the party, taking 14 runs off three balls from a Ben Brendan Doggett over as Hobart suffered a hammering.
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