Rishad claims best Big Bash figures as Hobart beat Perth

Rishad Hossain continued his impressive run in the Big Bash League on Friday, producing his best figures of the season to set up a four-wicket victory for the Hobart Hurricanes against the Perth Scorchers at Perth Stadium.

The leg-spinner returned figures of 3-33, bettering his previous best of 2-33 against the Melbourne Stars earlier this month, as Hobart restricted Perth to 150 for eight. Rishad played a crucial role in breaking momentum at key stages, allowing the Hurricanes to keep a firm grip on the Scorchers' innings.

Introduced in the fifth over of the Powerplay, Rishad conceded nine runs in his first over after Perth opener Finn Allen struck a six. He bounced back immediately after the Powerplay, though, trapping hard-hitter Cooper Connolly (6 off seven balls) with a well-disguised googly in the seventh over. Connolly attempted a big shot over the off side but skewed the flighted delivery straight to long-off. Despite conceding a boundary off the final ball, Rishad gave away 10 runs in that over.

Rishad struck again in his third over -- the 10th of the innings -- removing Aaron Hardie for nine off 10 balls. This time, he enjoyed a slice of luck as Hardie mistimed a length ball on middle and leg, offering a leading edge that was safely taken at short fine leg. Only four runs came from that over.

With Perth eyeing a late surge through Nick Hobson (22 off 14 balls) and Laurie Evans (19 off 15 balls), and the score reading 123 for five after 15 overs, Rishad was brought back to bowl at the death. After conceding a couple and a six off his first two balls of the 16th over, he responded with flight and guile, luring Evans, who made 27 off 18 balls, into a stumping. The remaining deliveries of the over yielded just two runs.

Allen's team-highest 43 off 23 balls and Hobson's eventual 29 off 23 helped Perth reach 150 for eight. Hobart, however, made light work of the chase as Tim David smashed 42 off 28 balls and Macalister Wright added a brisk 22 off 13 deliveries. After a slower 30 off 34 balls from Nikhil Chaudhury, the Hurricanes crossed the line in 19.3 overs.

The win was Hobart's third in four matches, placing them second on the standings with six points, behind Melbourne Stars (on net run rate), who have three wins from three games.

Rishad now has six wickets from four matches this season, conceding runs at an economy rate of 7.50.