Great Norther Raiders lose off the second last ball to North Hobart

North Hobart required two runs to win off the final two deliveries at UTAS Stadium.

Amid a pulsating last over, teenager Jack White whipped one off his pads towards Alex Kerrison at mid-wicket.

In Kerrison’s pursuit to cut off the single and prevent White tying up the scores, the darting Westbury offspinner overran the ball to concede an additional two runs.

Ollie Wood delivered the final six balls to a batting side needing to score seven runs.

After conceding a first-ball run, Demons captain Caleb Jewell was dramatically run out coming back for a second off a top edge to third man.

A strong throw to Alistair Taylor all but found Jewell halfway up the pitch, but the Raiders keeper took the ball out of position and had to stretch to hit the stumps.

Raiders could have had a second run out off the third-last ball when a direct hit from long off would have had Kade Applebee stranded at the non-striker’s end short.

Raiders coach Andrew Gower credited to his death bowlers in the six-wicket loss.

“You’re always hopeful, but it’s in the batters’ favour, isn’t it?” Gower said.

“We’ve seen in Big Bash cricket that anything under 12 an over is very gettable.

“So we were probably behind the eight-ball, but you never know that with a couple of wickets here it swings it in your favour.”

North Hobart had to run down 114, but lost two wickets in the opening two overs.

James Beattie (1-17 off four overs) hit the edge of Tasmanian regular Jake Doran’s bat through to Taylor for just two.

Taylor’s tidy glovework off Kerrison (1-16 off four) had Corey Murfet also nick one for a third-ball duck.

But Jewell never looked to struggle or hurried on his way to 56 off 60 balls.

The 2017-18 Emerson Rodwell medallist for player of year put on a 80-run partnership with state allrounder Tom Rogers (35 off 41) until Wood finally broke the resistance in the 18th over. 

“Look Rogers and Jewell batted exceptionally well throughout the middle and they were taking the game away from us,” Gower said.

“But I felt from afar on the sidelines, if we got a wicket that the game was on.

“So it was crucial to keep on pushing because they really were never scoring at 10 or 12 an over. They were just playing really good cricket  and get that six or seven an over with smart cricket.

“It just showed up their experience and how they went about it. But once we got those wickets, I thought we really worked ourselves right into the game and put some pressure.”

Six days after BBL outfit Perth Scorchers could only muster 8-107 against Hobart at UTAS Stadium, Gower felt 130 was a par score.

Rogers quickly dismissed Devonport pair Miles Barnard (12 off 23 balls) and Anish Paraam (7 off 12) to leave the hosts 2-24 in the seventh.

But Hurricanes rookie Jake Williams provided the rearguard action from No.3.

The Raiders leading runscorer remained undefeated on 47 from 46 deliveries.

Taylor would fall for seven and Jeremy Jackson 11, but Wood then pressed his batting credentials with 21 off 11 that included a four and then a six from the final two balls.

The fourth-wicket stand between Williams and Wood showed real intent with 31 runs in just 3.2 overs.

The Raiders could hold their heads up high from two weeks ago when they were bundled out for 61 after being 8-35 against University.

“I was really happy – as a whole, this was probably our most complete performance for the season,” Gower said.

Gower added that bowling against three Tasmanians with 47 Sheffield Shield caps gave the side further traction.

“They certainly had a really good lineup,” he said. 

“For us to match it with them, to take it nearly the last ball is an exceptional good way to start the new year.”

The Raiders will take on Lindisfarne on Sunday from 1pm at UTAS Stadium.