Big Bash League: Hits and misses as Perth Scorchers fall to defeat in final over to Hobart Hurricanes

Perth Scorchers have failed to take their moments in a last-over defeat to the defending champion Hobart Hurricanes at Optus Stadium. Here are our hits and misses from the Boxing Day blockbuster. HITS Less is more Finn Allen entered the Big Bash least season determined to dominate. His eyes were spinning from the moment he reached the crease, bashing a boundary or two and then falling cheaply. But this year, he’s simply backed in his tremendous talent. He is giving bowlers their dues and than sending bad balls as far into the crowd as he can. It is working well so far, with Allen having cracked 138 runs at 69 from three innings this season. He only scored 181 at 18.10 last campaign. All-round talent Cooper Connolly had a rare fail with the bat on Boxing Day but being an all-rounder, he’s never out of the game. His bowling is so trusted by skipper Ashton Turner he was handed the first over against the highly-destructive Mitch Owen. It started poorly to say the least, the first ball slog-sweeped over deep mid-wicket for six. But the young gun held his nerve, going wide outside off stump the next ball and getting Owen to cut the ball straight to point. The celebration was also elite! His second over brought success as well, trapping an in-form Ben McDermott lbw. Spin to win The difference in the game ended up being the spinners as Ashton Turner left three overs, one from Cooper Connolly and two from Ashton Agar, on the table. Both of the Hurricanes’ front-line spinners went at just over eight per set and picked up four wickets between them. Connolly did even better with three wickets at 7.66 an over while Agar went at 8.50 without taking a scalp. The quicks weren’t expensive either but they didn’t look as dangerous. MISSES Hardie’s crossroads Just two seasons ago Aaron Hardie was the third-leading run scorer in the entire competition as the Scorchers claimed the title. Fast forward to 2025, and he is battling to hit the ball off the square. The problem for Hardie is he has been struggling in all formats and is relying on his bowling to keep getting a game. And his bowling was awful against the Hurricanes. He is a seriously talented all-rounder but the Scorchers need to find a way to unblock is form. Catches win matches Ashton Turner and Laurie Evans may need to be seperated in the field. They were given two tough chances fielding at mid-on and mid-off respectively. The first one had both running back with the flight and unable to decide which one needed to put the head down as the ball landed safely. Evans had the line on the second, running under a high ball from the deep, but Turner came across his path, tripping over the Englishman which saw Evans bobble and drop the catch of Tim David who was teeing off. Goliath falls It’s never fun to see players get injured but especially when it’s a bums-on-seats superstar like Tim David. His hamstring injury on Friday is a serious concern for Australia’s T20 World Cup hopes as well. David was in the midst of a whirlwind 42 from 28 as the visitors chased 151 for victory against Perth at Optus Stadium. However, the power-hitting superstar was stopped in his tracks after pushing off for a single. He slowed halfway down the wicket before completing the single, but instantly removed his glove and felt at his right hamstring. Mac Wright got through the next delivery before David called for a physio. After a very brief assessment, the Hurricane’s destroyer departed the field with his side still needing more than 50 runs for victory.