Rishad shines with control as Hobart go top in Big Bash

Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain continues to grow in stature for the Hobart Hurricanes in the ongoing Big Bash League.

The 23-year-old produced another display of control in Sydney on Saturday, playing a key role in Hobart's six-wicket win over the Sydney Thunder that took them to the top of the standings.

Although Rishad finished wicketless, he was the most economical bowler of the match as Hobart restricted Sydney to 205 for four. It was the third time Rishad failed to pick up a wicket this season but his performance was a marked improvement from Hobart's previous match against the Perth Scorchers, where he conceded 35 runs from four overs in a defeat.

Against Sydney, Rishad gave away 29 runs from his four overs at an economy rate of 7.25, conceding three fours and a six.

Introduced to complete the Powerplay, Rishad immediately troubled the batters. An early lbw appeal against England batter Sam Billings was overturned after Hobart opted for a review but the over was not short of drama. Rishad nearly claimed the most prized wicket of the match when David Warner, on just one run, mistimed a shot to deep mid-wicket, only for Tim Ward to spill the catch.

Warner went on to punish Hobart, smashing an unbeaten 130 off 65 balls, laced with 11 fours and nine sixes, to propel Sydney past the 200-run mark. Despite the missed chance, Rishad conceded just five runs in that over.

He was taken for 14 runs in his next over -- the eighth of the innings -- as Billings struck a boundary before Warner followed up with a pair of fours. However, Rishad regained control when he returned to bowl the 13th over, conceding only five runs to put the brakes on the scoring rate.

Rishad looked set to finish a fine spell, having conceded just two runs from the first five deliveries of his final over -- the 17th of the innings -- before Warner finally got the better of him with a towering six, taking nine runs off the over.

Ward redeemed himself with a match-winning 90 off 49 balls, while Mitchell Owen (45 off 18 balls) and Nikhil Chaudhary (29 not out off 14) chipped in with valuable cameos as Hobart chased down the target with 13 balls to spare.

Hobart now have 10 points from seven matches, having won five and lost two. Sydney Thunder, meanwhile, remain rooted to the bottom of the table with two points from six matches.