Doherty finished with figures of 4-27 off his four overs
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Hobart Hurricanes spinner Xavier Doherty sliced through the Barbados Tridents’ batting line-up with four wickets to not only lead his side to a comfortable six-wicket win in Mohali, but also secure them a spot in the semi-final of the Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20).
Doherty was well supported by all-rounder Shoaib Malik, who scored an unbeaten 39.
Hobart captain Tim Paine would have been delighted with his decision to bowl first after Barbados lost their top four batsmen for just 48 runs.
Jason Holder and Jonathan Carter somewhat stemmed the bleeding with a 22-run partnership before Holder was caught by Ben Laughlin at long-off off the bowling of Doherty for five runs.
Following Holder’s dismissal, the rest of Barbados’ batting line-up, with the exception of Carter, completely collapsed.
Carter was the only batsman to make any major contributions before his team was bowled out for a dismal 113. He smashed a valiant 43, which came off 34 balls and included three boundaries and two sixes, before he was caught by Doug Bollinger at short fine leg off the bowling of Doherty.
Carter made a gutsy 43
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Doherty was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Bollinger and Ben Hilfenhaus chipped in with two wickets apiece.
Chasing 114 to win, Hobart got off to a horrible start as opening batsman Ben Dunk was caught by Neil McKenzie at silly mid-off off the fourth ball of the innings.
Aiden Blizzard managed to make 21 runs before he was caught by McKenzie at short third man off the bowling of Dilshan Munaweera.
Paine failed to have an impact with the bat as he was given out lbw off the bowling of Akeal Hosein for 18 runs.
Travis Birt fared no better as he was cleaned up by Hosein for nine runs.
However, it was all Hobart from this point on as Malik and Jonathan Wells finished things off with a 46-run partnership.
Malik ended up making 39 off 35 balls, which included three boundaries, while Wells remained undefeated on 23 off 17 deliveries, which included one boundary and a six.
Malik hit three boundaries during his unbeaten knock of 39
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Hosein was the most successful bowler with two wickets, while Munaweera and Kyle Mayers claimed one wicket each.
Barbados captain Rayad Emrit was disappointed to have lost the match, and said: “The guys gave a good effort, but we dropped a couple of catches. That probably cost us the match. Still there were not enough runs on the board.”
Doherty was named Man of the Match.