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Match Recap: Hobart defeat Thunder

Hobart Hurricanes' formidable total of 3-171 in 20 overs proves to be too much for the Sydney Thunder

Match in Tweet: Knight and Burns propel Hurricanes to highest WBBL|02 total as the 'Canes crush the Thunder by 44 runs

The score: Hobart Hurricanes 3-171 (Knight 47, Burns 46) in 20 overs beat Sydney Thunder 9-127 (Haynes 28) in 20 overs by 44 runs

The hero: Heather Knight had the privilege of opening her account with a free hit and the 'Canes No.3 took full toll by dispatching the first ball she faced to the boundary. The English allrounder found the ropes four times in her first 10 deliveries to give her team a rocketing start. Knight played the sweep to great effect against the spinners, while against the medium pacers she preferred to shuffle across her stumps and bunt the ball to all corners of the field. Knight smashed nine fours in her innings of 47 from 29 balls to propel the Hurricanes to a formidable score of 3-171.

Knight flays the Thunder bowling

The support cast: The decision to promote Erin Burns to the opening slot proved to be a masterstroke for the Hurricanes. Burns got the team off to a flyer by hitting spinner Samantha Bates out of the attack during the power play. Given a reprieve in the third over, Burns took full toll on the Thunder spinner by smashing her for sixes off consecutive balls. Burns (46) put on 64 runs with Knight for the second wicket to put the Hurricanes in total command of the match.

Burns thrives in new role

The stats: Hobart Hurricanes score of 3-171 is the highest team score in the WBBL|02. Nicole Carey figures of 4-0-50-0 were also the most expensive in the WBBL|02. 

The drop: Erin Burns should have been walking back to the pavilion in the third over when she spooned a catch to Alex Blackwell at cover, but the Thunder skipper missed the opportunity. Burns was on five at the time and would go on to add a further 41 runs. 

Alex Blackwell's costly drop

The catch: Heather Knight capped off a fine night by taking a catch that was described by the commentators as an 'AFL style leap and mark'. Fielding at cover Knight timed her jump perfectly to snare one of the catches of the WBBL|02. 

Knight takes an AFL style catch

The next stop: The Hurricanes will now host the Heat at Blundstone Arena in Hobart, while the Thunder have a few days off to prepare for local derby against the Sixers at the SCG.