Lehmann (right) celebrates with Ludeman (left) after his last ball six

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Jake Lehmann, the son of Australia head coach Darren Lehmann, hit a six off the last ball to help the Adelaide Strikers secure a semi-final on home soil and a six-wicket win over the Hobart Hurricanes.

Hurricanes captain Tim Paine would have been regretting his decision to bat first as he and Michael Hill were the only two batsmen to make decent contributions with the bat.

Paine led by example as he was the Hurricanes’ top-scorer with 45 runs, which came off 39 balls and included three boundaries and two sixes. Hill made a quickfire 32, while Jonathan Wells was the only other batsman to reach the 20-run mark.

Thanks largely to Paine and Hill, the Hurricanes reached 143 before they were bowled out.

Michael Neser was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Ben Laughlin and Adil Rashid snapped up two wickets apiece.

Chasing 144 to win, the Hurricanes lost Jono Dean for 15 early on before Travis Head was dismissed for 25 a short while later.

Tim Ludeman and skipper Brad Hodge stabilised the innings with a crucial 65-run partnership, during which Ludeman brought up his half-century, before Hodge was clean bowled by Shaun Tait for 28.

Hodge’s wicket made things interesting as the Strikers were left needing 10 runs off the last over to win.

The Strikers managed to get five runs off the first three balls before Alex Ross was brilliantly caught by Wells off the bowling of Simon Milenko.

Milenko conceded a single off the penultimate ball, leaving the Strikers needing four runs to win off the final ball. Lehmann, who was facing his first ball of the match, became an overnight hero as he hammered the last ball for six to lead his side to a thrilling win.

Milenko was the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Tait claimed one.

Rashid was named Man of the Match.