Tim David produced a match-winning innings for Hobart Hurricanes on Boxing Day before injuring his hamstring in their four-wicket victory over the Perth Scorchers at Optus Stadium.Scorchers wasted a solid start on the way to making 150 for 8 in Friday night’s match, with Finn Allen (43 off 23 balls), Nick Hobson (29 off 23) and Laurie Evans (27 off 18) the main contributors.In reply, Hurricanes slumped to 39 for 3 following an early onslaught from Cooper Connolly before David (42 off 28 balls) and Nikhil Chaudhary (34 off 30) put them back in the box seat.But in an unexpected twist, David pinged his hamstring while running for a single in the 15th over, forcing him to retire hurt with the scoreboard reading 103 for 4. Mac Wright (22* off 13) and Chris Jordan (15 off 11 balls) stepped up to the plate to help guide Hurricanes home with three balls to spare.Hurricanes needed 14 runs for victory with eight balls remaining, before Wright – who was replacing the injured Matthew Wade – cracked Aaron Hardie for a six and a four off consecutive balls to ease the pressure.Hurricanes improved their record to 3-1, but David’s injury comes as a huge blow to their hopes of defending their title. The BBL final is held on January 25, meaning David faces a race against time to return this season.Scorchers entered the match looking to atone for their shock loss to Brisbane Heat when they failed to defend 257. Allen ensured they got off to a fast start, but when he was caught on the boundary to leave the Scorchers at 73 for 3 in the ninth over, it signalled the end of Scorchers’ attacking potency.Rishad Hossain’s three-wicket haul kept Perth Scorchers to 150•James Worsfold/CA/Getty Images
Riley Meredith (2 for 19) was Hurricanes’ most economical bowler, with his most important wicket being that of star opener Mitchell Marsh. Spinner Rishad Hossain was the most destructive, snaring a trio of danger men in the form of Connolly, Hardie and Evans.Scorchers needed to make an early dent, and Connolly was called upon to open the bowling. Connolly’s first delivery was whacked for six by Mitch Owen, but he was out next ball when he cut an easy catch to point. Joel Paris sent Tim Ward packing for 4, and when Connolly trapped Ben McDermott plumb lbw after a failed reverse sweep, Hurricanes were in all sorts of trouble at 39 for 3 in the eighth over.David was on 26 when a hesitation between Evans and Ashton Turner in the field meant Evans didn’t fully commit to a skied ball, which ended up landing outside of his grasp. Then when David was on 37, Evans looked set to take the skied catch, but he fumbled the ball just a moment before Turner stumbled over him. The hamstring injury ended David’s night, but they had enough firepower behind him to get the job done.