Blizzard blows Cobras away

An unbeaten knock of 78 by Aiden Blizzard inspired the Hobart Hurricanes to a six-wicket victory over the Cape Cobras in Hyderabad on Sunday.

The Cobras posted a competitive-looking score of 184/6 in their allotted overs, but a 35-ball 54 from opener Ben Dunk and Blizzard’s knock made short work of the target, reaching the score with an over to spare.

The Hurricanes seemed to have made a mess of their blistering start when Time Paine (seven), Shoaib Malik (eight) and Travis Birt (seven) all fell without contributing much to the score.

Sybrand Engelbrecht seemed to have produced a match-winning performance with the ball having finished with figures of 3/20 in his four overs, but the rest of the Cobras attack failed to provide sufficient support for the off-spinner.

Earlier, the Cobras posted their score after winning the toss and opting to bat first.

Hashim Amla opened the batting for the Cape side with Richard Levi, and the Proteas Test skipper was the first to fall when he was bowled by Ben Hilfenhaus for eight to make it 12/1 after the second over.

After his departure, Levi, Omphile Ramela flayed several boundaries in what was a productive period for the Cobras, before the latter fell for 21 bowled by Doug Bollinger.

Levi was joined by Dane Villas, but after the opener fell for 42 in the 10th over, the Cobras lost their way to an extent as skipper Justin Ontong (10), Vilas (25) and Engelbrecht (12) all fell in quick succession to make the score 132/6 after 16 over.

In strode Robin Peterson and Vernon Philander, with the Proteas pair hitting nine boundaries in the final four overs to progress the score to a challenging one.

Peterson and Philander ended unbeaten on 25 and 32 respectively.

Hurricanes seamer Ben Laughlin was arguably the pick of the Australian side’s bowlers after finishing the innings with figures of 2/31 in his four overs having taken the wickets of Levi and Engelbrecht.