Nathan Ellis, Chennai Super Kings' recruit for IPL 2025, bagged one of the greatest catches of BBL 14. This stunning shot came during Bubble A clash between the Hobart Hurricanes and Adelaide Strikers.
Fishing defies faith
In the 10th over, the Strikers were in pursuit of their target, with Matthew Short attacking ferociously against the Hurricanes. Positioned in the middle of the pitch, Ellis had a different strategy. Waqar Salamakhil sent a high, slow ball. Short stepped forward to hit her hard but mistimed his swing. The ball rose high, and Ellis initially misjudged its trajectory, causing him to run backwards.
However, he remained focused on the ball. When he got down, Ellis jumped up and caught him with both hands as he fell to the ground. The crowd marveled at the stunning catch that gave the Hurricanes a vital advantage and turned the momentum of the game in their favor.
Hobart's leadership total paves the way
Earlier in the match, Hobart had posted a total of 214/5, with Ben McDermott leading the charge. McDermott's dazzling 68 off 34 balls included three sixes, and he broke his bat after hitting the second maximum. After scoring, McDermott continued to unleash powerful shots, helping Hobart score just 200 points total for the season and the fourth highest score in team history. Despite losing early wickets – Mitchell Owen (8) and Caleb Jewell (22) – the Hurricanes were pushed forward by McDermott and Tim David (33), who added 88 runs in the last six overs.
The Strikers, led by Overton's 2-27, fought back with some key breakthroughs, but Hobart's impressive play and explosive batting made it difficult for Adelaide to catch up.
The attackers' big push comes up short
In reply, the Strikers got off to a blistering start, with captain Matt Short (52) and Darcy Short (41) putting together a solid 76-run partnership. Ollie Pope added 39 points, and Overton contributed a quick 30-point shot without getting out. However, the attackers were unable to keep up with the increased run rate.
When Matt Short hit his 14th BBL half-century with a massive six, it looked as if the strikers might be in for a thrilling chase. But then came Ellis's brilliant shot that sent Short back into the dressing room and turned the game in Hobart's favour.
A series of amazing field efforts
The strikers' chase continued to unravel as Tim David made a stunning volley to dispose of Alex Ross (8), and Ollie Pope fell calmly to a reverse shot from Chris Jordan. It seems as if the Hurricanes' fielding and bowling has always been a step forward.
The final blow came when Overton tried to limit the damage with a flurry of boundaries, but it wasn't enough. The Strikers finished at 203/6, 11 runs behind.
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