Haris Rauf takes back-to-back wickets in BBL 15 match against Hurricanes

MELBOURNE: Pakistan's right-arm speedster Haris Rauf claimed two wickets in as many deliveries during the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 home match against Hobart Hurricanes here at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday.

Rauf, representing Melbourne Stars in the ongoing league, shone with the ball for the home side in their campaign opener as he returned decent bowling figures of 2/33 in four overs.

The 32-year-old brought out his best in the final over of his spell as he outfoxed England's Chris Jordan with a slower delivery on a full length outside off, luring the batter to play a lofted shot, but he could not make the desired connection, and the ball lobbed for a regulation catch to Campbell Kellaway at mid-off.

Haris struck again on the penultimate delivery of his spell, bowling fast on length just outside leg, which Nathan Ellis jabbed by backing away and could not time the ball, lobbing it towards the mid-off where Kellaway took a sensational catch diving forward.

With another BBL hat-trick in sight, Haris bowled a searing length delivery, angling into the stumps, but Bangladesh's Rishad Hossain slashed it towards the deep mid-wicket to deny the speedster the landmark.

His twin strike in the final over, coupled with Peter Siddle's economical bowling figures of 3/30, helped the Stars curtail the Hurricanes to 158/9 in 20 overs.

Meanwhile, when this story was filed, the Stars had scored 60/2 in eight overs while chasing the 150-run target against the defending champions.