Hurricanes remain undefeated

The Hobart Hurricanes have continued their unbeaten start to the Big Bash League after a 14-run win over the Adelaide Strikers on Wednesday.

Solid contributions from Travis Birt (44), Phil Jaques (41) and Owais Shah (unbeaten 36) guided the Hurricanes to 4-171 from their 20 overs after choosing to bat at Adelaide Oval.

The Hurricanes' bowlers backed them up with captain Xavier Doherty (4-17) starring as they fought to their third win from as many matches, keeping the Strikers to 8-157 in their chase on a flat wicket.

Tom Cooper and Cameron Borgas looked capable of leading the Strikers to victory late in the innings, but the Hurricanes were largely untroubled after breaking their stand.

Opener Aiden Blizzard provided the Strikers with a brilliant start in their chase, hitting 20 off 14 before being clean bowled by Doherty as he looked for another six.

But, with his departure, the run-rate slowed, and when Adam Crosthwaite (five) fell to Jason Krejza (1-40), the hosts were reduced to 2-57 in their eighth over.

The in-form Rana Naved-ul-Hasan took the big wicket of Callum Ferguson (two) in the next over, thanks to a sharp catch from Rhett Lockyear at point.

When a settled Michael Klinger departed for 36 - to Doherty - the Strikers were in trouble at 4-73.

Adelaide had struggled to find boundaries to start their innings, before Cooper and Borgas provided some vital hitting.

Cooper smashed Naved-ul-Hasan out of the ground to start the 17th over as the Strikers kept up hopes of an unlikely win.

Borgas was handed a life by Krejza in the 17th over, but he fell next ball when he skied one, bringing an end to his 31 and a 62-run partnership.

Cooper (44 off 27) remained at the crease at the end as Doherty tore through the tail - including just missing out on a hat-trick - to lead his team to the win.

Earlier, the Hurricanes relied on some big hitting in the last five overs to post their strong total.

Openers Jonathan Wells and Jaques worked hard to ensure the visitors had wickets in hand, battling to 41 without loss in the six power-play overs.

Wells, who was fortunate to survive an lbw shout from Alfonso Thomas in the sixth over, was the first to go, smashing a shot down Blizzard's throat at mid-wicket to depart for 31.

League-leading run-scorer Birt lifted the run rate, before Jaques was removed having struggled to get going.

Birt had hammered a blistering 44 off 26 balls, including three fours and three sixes, but he fell to Johan Botha (2-28) going after more quick runs.

Shah finished unbeaten with some clever late hitting, while Matt Johnston added 13 off five as the Hurricanes blasted 66 off the last five overs.