Chris Jordan and Nikhil Chaudhary produced career-best Big Bash League performances as Hobart Hurricanes swept aside Melbourne Renegades by seven wickets in Geelong, surging to the top of the table with a commanding win that came with 37 balls to spare.
The defending champions delivered an emphatic response to their defeat against Melbourne Stars last week, combining ruthless bowling with explosive batting on a damp GMHBA Stadium surface. With this victory, Hurricanes have set themselves up nicely ahead of the final leg of their challenging road trip, which concludes against Perth Scorchers on Boxing Day.
Jordan laid the foundation with a devastating spell, claiming 4 for 19 — the finest figures of his 56-match BBL career. He set the tone immediately, opening the match with the first maiden over of the season and sending down nine consecutive dot balls. Riley Meredith soon added to Renegades’ troubles by removing Josh Brown for a duck, leaving the hosts wobbling early.
Renegades briefly steadied through Tim Seifert and Mohammad Rizwan, who added 62 runs for the opening stand, but Jordan returned to break the momentum. He bowled Seifert for a brisk 34, before Rehan Ahmed removed Rizwan for 32, pushing Renegades firmly onto the back foot. From there, they struggled to recover and eventually limped to 145 for 9.
Chasing a modest target, Hurricanes were jolted early when Jason Behrendorff removed Mitch Owen with the first ball, and skipper Will Sutherland followed up with a superb running catch to dismiss Tim Ward. At 38 for 2, there was a hint of opportunity for Renegades, but it quickly vanished.
Chaudhary seized control with a breathtaking counterattack, smashing 79 from just 38 deliveries. His innings featured seven boundaries and four towering sixes, including one monstrous hit that cleared the stadium grandstand. He found strong support in Ben McDermott, who played a polished hand of 49 from 33 balls, striking two fours and four sixes.
Together, Chaudhary and McDermott added 93 runs for the third wicket, completely deflating Renegades’ hopes. McDermott fittingly sealed the chase with a maximum as Hurricanes cruised to 149 for 3.
For Renegades, it was a harsh comedown after their encouraging season-opening win over Brisbane Heat. For Hurricanes, it was a statement performance — clinical, confident, and ominous for the rest of the competition.
