Hobart Hurricanes produced a composed all-round performance to defeat Melbourne Renegades by four wickets in Match 15 of the Big Bash League (BBL) 2025-26 at the Bellerive Oval. Chasing a competitive target of 163, the Hurricanes held their nerve in a fluctuating run chase, powered by a blistering cameo from Matthew Wade and crucial late contributions, to seal the contest with an over to spare.
Nathan Ellis leads Hobart Hurricanes’ bowling with decisive spell
After being sent in to bat, Melbourne Renegades got off to a brisk start courtesy of aggressive intent from Josh Brown and Tim Seifert. Brown’s 26 off 13 balls and Seifert’s equally quick 26 off 14 ensured early momentum during the powerplay. However, Hobart struck back consistently, preventing any major partnership from taking the game away.
Ollie Peake anchored the middle overs with a steady 29 off 22 balls, while Will Sutherland and Gurinder Sandhu added useful runs lower down the order. Despite these efforts, the Renegades struggled to fully capitalise at the death and finished on 162/9 from their 20 overs.
Nathan Ellis led the Hurricanes’ bowling attack with a decisive spell, picking up three wickets for 30 runs, while Rishad Hossain chipped in with two scalps. Chris Jordan and Riley Meredith provided pace and control, ensuring the Renegades never completely broke free.
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Hurricanes’ chase wobbles before Matthew Wade takes charge
In reply, Hobart Hurricanes experienced early jitters as Mitchell Owen and Ben McDermott departed cheaply. Tim Ward and Beau Webster steadied the innings with a sensible partnership, keeping the chase on track without taking undue risks.
The game turned decisively in Hobart’s favour when Wade walked in and shifted gears instantly. The experienced wicketkeeper-batter smashed 43 off just 20 balls, including four towering sixes, swinging momentum back to the Hurricanes at a crucial juncture. Wade’s fearless approach neutralised the threat posed by Adam Zampa, who otherwise impressed with figures of 3/25.
Rehan Ahmed then played a vital supporting role, striking a fluent 23 off 14 balls to ensure there were no late hiccups. Although a couple of wickets fell towards the end, Hobart crossed the line at 163/6 in 19 overs to complete a well-managed chase.
Player of the match performance by Nathan Ellis ✨#NathanEllis #BBL2025 pic.twitter.com/9PyvT2OkaU
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) December 29, 2025
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