Rishad shines but Hobart fall short

Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain found himself at the centre of a tense finish as Hobart Hurricanes went down by three runs to Brisbane Heat in a Big Bash League clash in Hobart on Wednesday.    

Chasing 160, Hobart’s equation came down to six runs in the final over bowled by Brisbane pacer Zaman Khan. Nathan Ellis and Nikhil Chowdhury (16 runs off 17 balls) were at the crease but after Ellis managed just one run from the first two balls, Nikhil played out two dots before being dismissed. With five runs still needed to win, that left Rishad -- the new batter --  to face the decisive delivery. He could manage only a single, sealing a narrow defeat as Hobart finished on 157 for eight. 

The loss was particularly disappointing given Hobart’s strong position earlier in the chase. With 37 runs required from the final six overs, the Hurricanes had eight wickets in hand and two set batters at the crease in Beau Webster (51 runs off 43 balls) and Ben McDermott (59 runs off 36 balls), both of whom had crossed fifty. However, the side failed to capitalise on the favourable equation of just a run per ball. 

Despite the defeat, Hobart remain at the top of the Big Bash points table with 13 points from 10 matches and have already secured a playoff berth. However, the loss has cast doubt over their chances of finishing in the top two, leaving their fate dependent on other results.

Rishad, though, continued his impressive run with the ball. 

The 23-year-old returned figures of two for 27 from four overs -- the most economical figures amongst Hobart bowlers who completed their full quota -- recovering strongly after conceding 21 runs in his first two overs. He tightened up superbly at the death, giving away just six runs in his final two overs while dismissing Matt Renshaw and Marnus Labuschagne. He conceded just five runs and picked up the wicket of Renshaw when he was reintroduced into the attack in the 14th over. He returned even stronger in the daunting 19th over, conceding just three runs -- two leg-byes and a single -- while dismissing Marnus Labuschagne.

Rishad’s tally for the tournament now stands at 13 wickets, the joint-highest among spinners, alongside Adelaide Strikers’ Lloyd Pope.