In a clinical display of power hitting and disciplined bowling, the Hobart Hurricanes dominated the Melbourne Renegades in the 8th match of BBL 15. Held at the GMHBA Stadium in Geelong on December 21, 2025, the encounter proved to be a one-sided affair as the Hurricanes chased down a modest target with more than six overs to spare.
Hurricanes’ Disciplined Start with the Ball
Winning the toss and electing to bowl first, the Hobart Hurricanes made immediate inroads into the Renegades’ batting lineup. Riley Meredith set the tone early by removing Josh Brown for a sluggish eight-ball duck, caught by Nikhil Chaudhary. This early breakthrough put the Renegades on the back foot, forcing a rebuilding phase that never truly gained momentum.
Tim Seifert provided a brief spark for the home side, playing a breezy knock of 34 from 21 balls, featuring five boundaries and a maximum. He found some support in the world-class Mohammad Rizwan, who contributed a steady 32 off 26 deliveries. However, once Chris Jordan entered the fray, the Renegades’ middle order crumbled. Jordan was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with exceptional figures of 4 for 19 in his four overs. His ability to strike at crucial intervals, including the wickets of Seifert and the lower-order resistance from Hassan Khan, ensured the Renegades never posted a threatening total.
Renegades Struggle for Momentum
The Renegades’ innings was characterized by starts that failed to convert into substantial scores. Jake Fraser-McGurk struggled to find his timing, falling for just 7 runs off 11 balls to Rishad Hossain. Oliver Peake and Hassan Khan tried to inject some urgency into the death overs, with Khan striking two fours and a six in his 23-run cameo.
Despite their efforts, the Renegades were restricted to a sub-par 145/9. The Hurricanes’ spin duo of Rehan Ahmed and Rishad Hossain kept things tight through the middle overs, conceding only 25 and 21 runs respectively from their full quotas. Nathan Ellis also chipped in with two late wickets to ensure the tail could not wag, leaving the Hurricanes with a very achievable target of 146.
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Nikhil Chaudhary’s Explosive Counter-Attack
The Hurricanes’ chase began with a momentary scare when Jason Behrendorff dismissed Mitchell Owen for a golden duck on the very first ball of the innings. When Tim Ward fell shortly after for 8, the Renegades sensed a glimmer of hope. However, those hopes were quickly extinguished by a blistering partnership between Nikhil Chaudhary and Ben McDermott.
Chaudhary played the innings of the match, dismantling the Renegades’ bowling attack with a fearless 79 off just 38 balls. His strike rate of over 200 included seven boundaries and four towering sixes, effectively ending the contest within the first ten overs. He was particularly harsh on the Renegades’ pace bowlers, ensuring the required run rate remained well under control throughout his stay at the crease.
McDermott Anchors a Comprehensive Win
While Chaudhary provided the fireworks, Ben McDermott played a perfect supporting role that eventually turned into a match-winning onslaught of its own. McDermott finished unbeaten on 49 from 33 balls, falling just one run short of a well-deserved half-century as the winning runs were hit. His innings was punctuated by four sixes, showcasing his ability to clear the ropes with ease.
The Hurricanes reached the target of 149/3 in just 13.5 overs, securing a massive seven-wicket victory. The Renegades’ bowlers, including the usually reliable Adam Zampa, struggled to contain the flow of runs on a Geelong surface that seemed to favor the batsmen under the lights. The win provides the Hurricanes with a significant boost to their net run rate and cements their status as a formidable force in the tournament, while the Renegades are left to reflect on a batting performance that left their bowlers with too much to do.
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