Zak Crawley and Aaron Hardie’s Unbeaten 157-Run Partnership Propels Perth Scorchers to a Dominant Nine-Wicket Win
Ashes cricket star Zak Crawley and all-rounder Aaron Hardie played pivotal roles, propelling the Perth Scorchers to a convincing nine-wicket victory over the Chris Jordan-inspired Hobart Hurricanes at Optus Stadium.
Despite a strong display from Scorchers paceman Jason Behrendorff (4-25), the Hurricanes stumbled to 4-28 and 7-107 on Wednesday evening.
Chris Jordan’s explosive 59 off 20 balls, including a 17-ball half-century, boosted the Hurricanes to a competitive 8-172, setting the stage for a thrilling encounter.
In response, Hardie (85* off 44 balls) and Crawley (65* off 46 balls) showcased exceptional batting, forming an unbeaten 157-run partnership in just 84 balls to secure the Scorchers’ victory with 23 balls to spare.
Crawley, with an Ashes average of 53.3 and a strike rate of 88.7, made a stellar debut for the Scorchers, hitting six fours and one six. However, it was Hardie’s explosive performance, particularly in the 13th over, where he amassed 26 runs against spinner Paddy Dooley (0-44), that stole the show.
The Scorchers’ triumph propelled them to second place in the standings, tied on points with the table-topping Brisbane Heat. Meanwhile, Hobart, having lost their opening two games, faces the challenge of turning their season around quickly to reach the finals.
The fitness of skipper Ashton Turner is a concern for the Scorchers, as he injured his right knee while bowling his first delivery. Turner, recently acquired by Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL auction, limped off the ground, having previously dealt with a similar knee issue in the pre-season.
Behrendorff’s early brilliance saw Hobart’s top-order crumble, with key wickets including Ben McDermott and Sam Hain. Despite a late resurgence from debutant Nikhil Chaudhary (40 off 31) and Mitchell Owen (28 off 22), Jordan’s fireworks ultimately guided the Hurricanes to a competitive total.
