Paul Walter saves Brisbane Heat as Hobart Hurricanes collapse in BBL thriller
He’s known as Tall Paul, but Paul Walter’s superpowers extend beyond his height as the Heat poured water over the Hobart Hurricanes’ red-hot start with the ball.
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Cricket’s X-Man is bowling with superpowers right now and the Hobart Hurricanes had no answers when he was triggering the collapse that ruined their visit to the Gabba on Sunday night.
Brisbane Heat paceman Xavier Bartlett was already the Big Bash League’s leading wicket-taker before his three wickets in nine balls had the Hurricanes reeling at 4-22.
It was full credit to the Hurricanes (9-116) that they turned the night into a last-ball thriller which went to the Heat (7-132) by one run after a rain-adjusted chase.
Hurricanes captain Nathan Ellis needed three off the final ball to win it but could manage only a single as desperate partner Paddy Dooley was run out.
Surprise weapon Nikhil Chaudhary had hoisted a six off the first ball of the final over when 13 were needed for the upset against the bowling of Englishman Paul Walter.
It was “Tall Paul” who held his nerve, and had Chaudhary (58 off 38 balls) sky a hook to remove the danger man and dried up the runs with his final deliveries.
BARTLETT WINS PRAISE
Former Test paceman Brett Lee, as a Fox Sports commentator, was full of praise for Bartlett’s 3-30 and his BBL-leading 13 scalps to date.
“The Heat are hunting in packs with the ball and it all seems to be coming together perfectly. Bartlett bowled beautifully with an excellent seam position,” Lee said of his man-of-the-match.
The Hurricanes had bowled beautifully to restrict the unbeaten Heat to 7-132 but it was a pitch with zip and swing and they did not fare well against it themselves.
Bartlett nicked off Mac Wright (0) and Sam Hain (0) with successive balls in his opening over with superb balls nipping off the seam.
With 14 points, they are already guaranteed a finals spot with two games against the Perth Scorchers still to play.
KEY INNINGS FROM THE SKIPPER
Only Heat opener Colin Munro (56 off 47 balls) stayed for any length of time. He showed urgency but really only exploded in one over when he blazed 20 off spinner Nikhil Chaudhary.
The leftie lifted two drives over the fence off the shorter boundary and savagely pulled another four.
Munro rated the Heat total as 20 runs light.
LIFE OF RILEY
This was why speedster Riley Meredith was a great white-ball hope when selected for one-day and T20 duty for Australia in 2021.
He bowled quick and straight, in the mid-140km per hour range. Excellent deliveries nipped by the outside edge of Josh Brown, Nathan McSweeney and Sam Billings in a quality effort of 0-15 off four overs.
The Hurricanes strike weapon was at his best.
THE WHIRLING WINDMILL
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He had Wests clubmates, old Brisbane Grammar mates and family in the crowd of 27,124 at the Gabba.
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