Hobart Hurricanes punched their Challenger ticket with a gripping 3-run DLS win over Melbourne Stars in BBL 2025-26’s knockout at Bellerive Oval amid persistent rain. Next up: Sydney Sixers on the 23rd.
Fielding first post-toss loss in reduced 10 overs, Hurricanes eyed a defendable total. Mitchell Owen’s brisk 7 ended abruptly at 8-1. Recovery came via Tim Ward’s 10 and Beau Webster’s fireworks.
Webster’s 47 (26 balls: 3×4, 3×6) was pivotal, boosted by 37 with Nikhil Chaudhary (24). Melbourne’s response: Rauf (2-0), Maxwell, Curran, Stoinis (1 each), capping Hurricanes at 114-5.
Stars needed 115; rain adjusted to 85 in 7. Opener Thomas Rogers (4) departed immediately. Joe Clarke’s 31 off 17 kept them alive with boundaries galore.
Final overs saw Cartwright (15*) and Maxwell (9*) unleash, but Hurricanes’ Riley Meredith (2 wickets) and Mitchell Owen scripted the edge-of-seat victory. Playoffs intensity peaks.