Rain forces abandonment after Hales' charge

There was rain and Alex Hales in Hobart but no result was achieved as inclement weather allowed just 36 deliveries to be bowled. It was enough time, however, for the Englishman and his opening partner, Michael Klinger, to provide some spectacular highlights in the gloomy conditions.

After a 96-minute delay, the game was reduced to eight overs-a-side. There were two tosses that ended in one win apiece, as Strikers captain Johan Botha kindly offered to redo the first after the coin slipped out of the young mascot's hand.

Botha was regretting that when George Bailey won the toss the second time and inserted Adelaide in to bat, but Klinger pulled the first ball of the innings powerfully for four to appease any frustration.

The Strikers took 15 from Joe Mennie's first over before finding the pace and angle of Doug Bollinger harder to get at. The greasy ball was a nightmare for spinner Xavier Doherty to grip in the third over and Klinger cashed in, lofting the bowler inside-out over wide long-off for six and thrashing a knee-high full toss through point.

Then Hales swung violently at Bollinger in the fourth over and top-edged three times over the wicketkeeper's head for two frustrating fours and a two.

There were no edges thereafter, as Hales took down Evan Gulbis, striking four boundaries and a six in an over, hitting all corners of the Bellerive Oval with crisp blows on both sides of the pitch. Gulbis got his revenge with a missile throw from the fence to run Hales out for 49. Klinger faced just one more delivery before rain had the final say and the points were shared.