Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Dunk hammered 87 runs off 53 balls

Ben Dunk proved to be the Hobart Hurricanes’ hero as he demolished the Brisbane Heat with a incredible knock of 87 to book his side a spot in the semi-finals of the Big Bash League (BBL).

Dunk was well supported by captain Tim Paine, who smashed a quickfire 47, and leg-spinner Cameron Boyce, who took three wickets.

Paine won the toss and elected to bat first.

His decision to do so paid off as he and Dunk put together a 98-run partnership before he was caught by Chris Lynn at midwicket off the bowling off Heat captain James Hopes.

Jonathan Wells only managed to score 12 runs before he was caught by Joe Burns off the bowling of Gannon.

Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik scored 14 runs before he was caught by Burns off the bowling of Ryan Harris.

Travis Birt failed to have much of an impact as he made 11 runs before being caught by Mark Steketee off the bowling of Gannon.

Dunk ended up surpassing his half-century and was getting ever closer to his century until he was caught by Lynn at midwicket off the bowling of Gannon for 87.

Dunk’s spectacular innings of 87 came off 53 balls and included seven boundaries and three sixes.

The Hurricanes finished on 209 off their 20 overs thanks to a quickfire 22 from Evan Gulbis.

Gannon was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Harris snapped up two and Hopes chipped in with one.

Chasing 210 to win, the Heat got off to a solid start as their opening pair of Craig Kieswetter and Luke Pomersbach amassed a 50-run partnership before Kieswetter was caught behind off the bowling of Dimitri Mascarenhas for 22.

Mascarenhas struck again just three balls later when he clean bowled Burns for a duck.

Lynn only made one run before he was caught by Gulbis off the bowling of Boyce.

Ben McDermott failed to trouble the scorers as he was cleaned up by Boyce for a duck.

Pomersbach ended up registering his half-century before he was clean bowled by Ben Laughlin for 60 off 32 balls, which included eight boundaries and three sixes.

Hopes and Ben Cutting stabilised the innings with a 52-run partnership before Hopes was stumped by Paine off the bowling of Malik for 22.

Cutting managed to score 35 runs before he was clean bowled by Boyce.

With the lower order failing to make any real contributions, the Heat ended up falling short of their target by 40 runs.

Boyce was the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Laughlin and Mascarenhas picked up two wickets apiece and Malik chipped in with one.