Mitchell Marsh's Century Leads Perth Scorchers to Victory Over Hobart Hurricanes
Marsh's Stellar Performance Secures Win for Scorchers
Hobart [Australia], January 1: In an impressive display, Mitchell Marsh's century propelled the Perth Scorchers to a decisive 40-run win against the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League (BBL) 2025-26 on Thursday.
Opening the innings, Marsh delivered a spectacular performance, scoring 102 runs off just 58 balls, featuring 11 fours and five sixes. He received strong support from Aaron Hardie, who contributed an explosive unbeaten 94 from 43 balls, hitting nine boundaries and five sixes. Together, they dismantled the Hurricanes' bowling lineup, leading the Scorchers to a formidable score of 229/3 in their 20 overs.
In response to the challenging target, the Hobart Hurricanes managed only 189/9, despite some spirited efforts from their players. Nikhil Chaudhary was the standout performer for the Hurricanes, scoring a brisk 31 off 15 balls, which included five fours and a six.
After winning the toss and opting to field, Hobart struggled to build momentum in their chase, losing wickets consistently. The first wicket fell early, with Mitchell Owen dismissed for 4 when the score was just 14, giving Joel Paris his first wicket. Tim Ward, who had started well, was dismissed shortly after for 27 by Ashton Agar. The Hurricanes reached 50 runs in 6.3 overs but found themselves at 88/4 at the halfway mark.
Chaudhary and Matthew Wade attempted to stabilize the innings, adding 56 runs together. Wade played aggressively, scoring 29 off 14 balls before Chaudhary was caught by Cooper Connolly in the 12th over. Wade followed suit in the next over, leaving Hobart in a precarious position at 131/6 in 13.1 overs.
Rehan Ahmed, the English all-rounder, contributed 18 runs, but it wasn't enough to turn the tide. The Hurricanes soon fell to 150/7. Captain Nathan Ellis remained not out on 16 but couldn't lead his team to victory.
Ashton Agar was the standout bowler for the Scorchers, taking 3 wickets for 38 runs in his four overs during this high-scoring match. Hardie also excelled with the ball, claiming 2 wickets for 27 runs in three overs, while Paris took 2/36. Connolly and Brody Couch both had economical spells, each finishing with figures of 1/23.
For his outstanding century, Marsh was named Player of the Match, setting the stage for the Perth Scorchers' impressive triumph in Hobart.