Wade, Short set up Hurricanes' thumping victory as Philippe fifty in vain

Matthew Wade's rapid 93 and D'Arcy Short's unbeaten 73 fuelled Hobart Hurricanes' statement victory over two-time defending champions Sydney Sixers and helped open their account in the 2021-22 BBL season.

Wade, one of the architects of Australia's title-winning 2021 T20 World Cup campaign, set up Hurricanes' massive 2 for 213, which proved too much for Sixers despite the efforts of in-form opener Josh Philippe.

Sixers were left aggrieved when a 10-minute rain break early in their innings meant their target was reduced to 196 off 18 overs and, crucially, they lost a Power Surge over.

But Hurricanes ran out convincing winners and gained sweet revenge after losing to Sixers in Launceston on Wednesday.

Short has carved a reputation as a belligerent short-form batter, but he was intent on scurrying for singles on the rare chances he had strike in the early overs. It was a wise strategy given the mood of white-hot Wade who smashed a 19-ball half-century - the fastest-ever fifty by a Hurricanes player.

With two left-handers at the crease, experienced spinner Steve O'Keefe was overlooked in the powerplay with Tom Curran preferred, and Wade's eyes lit up. He pounced on a hapless Curran, who generally is more comfortable bowling in the middle overs, for five fours in the second over prompting desperate Sixers skipper Moises Henriques to rotate his quicks.

On a batting-friendly pitch and lightning-quick outfield, Wade feasted on pace as Henriques finally turned to O'Keefe in the sixth over. The wily spinner tempered the run rate and so too experienced Dan Christian, who smartly focused on slower balls in a bid to halt the one-man 'Cane train.

Wade took the Power Surge in the 10th and 11th overs in a bid to reignite the momentum. Rollicking to his team's century, Wade again eyed Curran and promptly smashed him for six first ball before finally miscuing to fall just short of a deserved century.

Hurricanes missed the playoffs last season but have been tipped as a title contender this edition. After Wade was dismissed, Hurricanes did not relent, with Caleb Jewell keeping the momentum going in a whirlwind knock marked by inventiveness to thwart Sixers' plans at bowling a full length.

Hurricanes could mount a deep run if Short can recapture the dizzying heights that once made him a T20 sensation. He had a tough start to the season with a dawdling 21 off 36 in the opener against Sixers after having moderate success as a middle-order batter in domestic cricket for Western Australia.

But it was a mature knock from Short who expertly played a supporting role to Wade before putting the foot down in the latter overs highlighted by a huge six over midwicket to bring up Hurricanes' 200.

No one was writing off Sixers given their deep reservoir of batting as they showed off in the season-opener against Melbourne Stars with 4 for 213, albeit batting first.

Philippe, who whacked 83 against Stars, and James Vince kept pace but rain halted play with Sixers 0 for 42 in the fifth over.

There was only a 10-minute break but it was enough to reduce Sixers' chase to 196 runs off 18 overs and they lost one power surge over in a recalculation labelled as "harsh" by Alyssa Healy on the broadcast while Sixers bowling coach Andre Adams said it was "disappointing".

Sixers struggled to regain momentum and lost Vince as the run rate needed quickly ballooned to 14 an over after Tim David - whose accurate offspin opened the innings - bowled flat and quick in the ninth over.

Wade capped off his stellar match with astute captaincy as he juggled his bowlers well and they repaid the faith by executing a full length.

He inserted his talisman Sandeep Lamichhane in the 10th over and it should have brought instant reward only for outfielder Jordan Thompson to drop a sitter to reprieve Philippe.

The spinner bowled superbly in the middle overs to lead a disciplined attack which never gave Sixers a sniff. They were, however, let down by sloppy fielding with Philippe having more lives than a cat until his dismissal by the impressive recruit Joel Paris in the 14th over effectively ended the contest.