The 15th match of the Big Bash League (BBL) 2025-26 season delivered a high-octane spectacle on December 29, 2025, as the Hobart Hurricanes hosted the Melbourne Renegades at Ninja Stadium. In a contest that swung back and forth until the final over, it was the Hurricanes who emerged victorious, continuing their dominance at home and extending their winning streak at the venue to eight matches. The four-wicket win for Hobart underscored the tactical depth of their roster, while the Renegades were left to rue a middle-order slump that prevented them from posting a truly daunting total.
Renegades’ Explosive Start and Mid-Innings Stutter
Winning the toss and electing to bowl, Nathan Ellis and his Hurricanes side were immediately put on the back foot by the Renegades’ openers. Josh Brown and Tim Seifert came out with aggressive intent, dismantling the new ball attack. Brown struck a rapid 26 off 13 balls, including three boundaries and two sixes, while Seifert matched him with a 14-ball 26. Their partnership ensured the Renegades were scoring at nearly 14 runs per over in the early stages.
However, once the opening stand was broken at 38, the Hurricanes’ spinners and disciplined pace attack began to claw back control. Muhammad Rizwan contributed a steady 16, and Jake Fraser-McGurk teased the crowd with a quick 14, but neither could convert their starts into a match-winning score. The Renegades’ momentum slowed significantly in the middle overs, largely due to the efforts of Rishad Hossain, who claimed the vital wickets of Rizwan and Fraser-McGurk. Oliver Peake top-scored for the visitors with a gritty 29 off 22 balls, but the lower order struggled to find the boundary consistently. Nathan Ellis led from the front at the death, finishing with figures of 3/30 to restrict the Renegades to 162/9 after 20 overs.
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The Hurricanes’ Calculated Chase
Chasing 163 for victory, the Hurricanes’ response was measured yet purposeful. Tim Ward anchored the early part of the innings with a solid 30 off 26 balls, featuring two sixes. He found support in Beau Webster, who added a brisk 27, keeping the required run rate within reach. Despite the steady progress, the Hurricanes faced a major scare when Adam Zampa was introduced into the attack.
Zampa, showing why he is considered one of the premier white-ball spinners in the world, tore through the Hurricanes’ middle order. He dismissed Tim Ward and Ben McDermott (who fell for a duck) in the same over, and later trapped Nikhil Chaudhary lbw for 19. Zampa’s spell of 3/25 from his four overs threatened to derail the chase entirely, as Hobart found themselves at 94/5 in the 13th over. At that stage, the Renegades appeared to have the upper hand, with the Hobart crowd growing increasingly nervous.
Matthew Wade’s Finishing Masterclass
With the match hanging in the balance, veteran campaigner Matthew Wade stepped up to deliver one of the most clinical finishing performances of the season. Entering the fray under immense pressure, Wade displayed remarkable composure, manipulating the field and picking his spots with precision. He was particularly severe on any width offered, turning the tide back in Hobart’s favor.
Wade’s unbeaten 43 came from just 20 deliveries at a staggering strike rate of 215. His innings included two fours and four massive sixes, the most crucial of which came in the penultimate over. Partnering with Rehan Ahmed (23 off 14) and later Chris Jordan, Wade ensured there would be no late drama. He sealed the victory in the 19th over by smashing Gurinder Sandhu for a six and a four in consecutive balls, guiding the Hurricanes to 163/6 with six balls to spare.
Key Stats and Player of the Match
Nathan Ellis was named Player of the Match for his tactical captaincy and his three-wicket haul, which proved essential in keeping the Renegades to a sub-170 total. For the Renegades, while Adam Zampa was the standout performer with the ball, the lack of support from the other end—with Gurinder Sandhu conceding 50 runs in his four overs—proved costly.
This victory solidified the Hobart Hurricanes’ position at the top of the BBL table, while the Melbourne Renegades continued to struggle for consistency outside of Victoria. The Hurricanes’ ability to win from difficult positions, spearheaded by the experience of Wade and the death-bowling excellence of Ellis, remains their greatest strength as the tournament progresses.
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