The Hobart Hurricanes have reached the semi-finals of the lucrative Champions League Twenty20 tournament following a six-wicket victory over the Barbados Tridents in Mohali.
Having routed their opponents for just 113, passage through to the tournament's knock-out stage seemed straight-forward - but last year's Big Bash League runners-up were forced to fight for the win on a slow-paced wicket, before veteran Shaoib Malik (39 off 35) guided them to 4-117 in the penultimate over.
Offspinner Xavier Doherty starred with the ball, taking 4-27 as the Tridents were held to comfortably their lowest total of the tournament, while pacemen Doug Bollinger and Ben Hilfenhaus each picked up two wickets.
The Hurricanes' chase got off to the worst possible start with dynamic opener Ben Dunk dismissed for a duck, but reliable contributors Tim Paine (18 off 20) and Aiden Blizzard (21 off 24) steadied the ship before the calm Malik steered them to victory alongside Jonathan Wells (23 off 17).
The win ensures the Hurricanes have locked up second spot in Group B, and will join Indian Premier League powerhouses the Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab as well as the second-placed team from Group A in the semi-finals.
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