BBL: Short 96* fires Hobart Hurricanes to 59-run win
D'Arcy Short (Credit: BBL)[/caption] Opener D'Arcy Short struck an unbeaten 96 off 57 against Melbourne Stars as Hobart Hurricanes claimed the top spot in the ongoing Big Bash League on Monday. After being put in to bat, Hurricanes posted a challenging 185/2 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and in reply, Stars were bowled out for 126 in 17.1 overs. Their chase never got going with Johan Botha striking in the second over of the innings cleaning up opener Evan Gulbis on 4. They made 45 at the cost of two wickets in the Powerplay overs. Short would also taste success with his bowling as he bowled Ben Dunk on 20 off the first delivery of seventh over. When Botha pinned skipper Nic Maddinson for his second scalp, Stars were left tottering at 51/4. Seb Gotch (35) and allrounder Dwayne Bravo (19) unsuccessfully attempted at reviving the run-chase. Both were back in the dug out by the 15th over with their team's fate all but sealed. Riley Meredith inflicted the maximum damage finishing with figures of 4/21 while Johan Botha and Jofra Archer chipped in with two wickets each. Hurricanes were given a perfect start by their opening pair of Short and Matthew Wade. They added 95 runs between them before Wade holed out for 38-ball 41. Jake Doran could only manage 7 before Liam Bowe caught him off his own bowling. Short struck eight fours and four sixes during his knock and was unlucky to miss out on a hundred as one of his earlier attempts went for a boundary which came off an inside edge but was given as four leg byes. His 96 is the highest by any batsman this season. Brief Scores: Hobart Hurricanes 185/2 (D'Arcy Short 96*, Matthew Wade 41; Tom O Connell 1/17) beat Melbourne Stars (Seb Gotch 35; Riley Meredith 4/21) by 59 runs