Clinical Strikers crush Hurricanes

Fifties from Tim Ludeman and Jono Dean helped Adelaide Strikers chase down Hobart Hurricanes' 137-run target with eight wickets and more than five overs to spare in front of a sell-out crowd of more than 43,000 at the Adelaide Oval. Earlier, Shaun Tait's three-wicket haul and two wickets from Ben Laughlin had limited the Hurricanes to 8 for 136.

Kane Richardson struck off the second ball of the match to dismiss Ben Dunk before Alex Hales and Tim Paine added 41 for the second wicket. The Strikers bowlers, however, quickly wrested away the advantage as Hurricanes lost three wickets for 10 runs and eventually stumbled to 8 for 99 in the 17th over. Jonathan Wells lifted the side to 136 with a 36-ball 58 and he provided a late flourish, taking 19 runs off the final over.

Ludeman and Craig Simmons got the Strikers off to a swift start before a 75-run partnership between Ludeman and Dean put the side on the brink of a win. Ludeman was dismissed for 54 off 33 balls with Strikers needing 25 runs. Dean and Kieron Pollard took six more deliveries to slam the remaining runs, ending the match in a flurry of sixes. Dean got to his maiden T20 fifty with a six off the last ball, the sixth one of his innings.

Dean's six sixes represented a record for a Strikers batsman. Notably, he was only in the side after the late withdrawal of Brad Hodge, who was struck on the arm by bowling coach Joe Dawes in a pre-match net.