BBL: Matthew Wade helps Hobart Hurricanes secure top spot
Matthew Wade responded to his latest national snubbing with a blistering Big Bash League half century as the Hobart Hurricanes locked up top spot and a home semi-final.
The in-form Wade, overlooked on Thursday for Australia's ODI squad for the upcoming tour of India, hit 58 from 30 balls to lead the Hurricanes to a 16-run win over the Melbourne Renegades.
It was the former Test wicketkeeper's sixth half century of the BBL season.
Chasing 184 to win, the Renegades flew out of the blocks before Hobart's unlikely spin duo of debutant Afghani Qais Ahmad and D'Arcy Short turned the screws.
The 18-year-old Ahmad (2-34) picked up a scalp in his first over, while Short underlined his all-round credentials with 2-20 off four overs, including a wicket maiden.
The Renegades treated the Hurricanes pacemen with disdain early, racing to 1-70 off the powerplay with Riley Meredith bowling three no-balls in a horror 10-ball first over that went for 23 runs.
But regular wickets halted their momentum.
Hurricanes down Renegades AAP
Tom Cooper top scored with 44, while skipper Aaron Finch got 35 in a Renegades innings that never quite took off.
The win means the Hurricanes have secured top spot on the ladder and a home semi-final with a game to play.
The Renegades will finish inside the top four but their final position depends on other results.
Earlier, Wade smacked four sixes in an 87-run opening stand with Short (28 from 23) after the Hurricanes were sent in at Bellerive Oval.
He became the second player to pass 500 runs this tournament, behind Short.
The Hurricanes were flying at more than 10-an-over in the powerplay but Melbourne pegged back momentum when Kane Richardson (2-55) removed Wade and Short in the space of three balls in the ninth over.
It sparked a collapse of 3-10 in the middle overs, before Simon Milenko swung some lusty blows late.
Milenko (27 from 14 balls) took 20 runs off one Richardson over before holing out to English seamer Harry Gurney (2-40).
Ben McDermott finished unbeaten on 39, after playing a steadying role for the Hurricanes as they reached 6-183.
