Doherty spins Hobart to victory in Big Bash League

Adelaide: Left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty starred with the ball in Hobart Hurricanes`s 14-run win over Adelaide Strikers in the Twenty20 Big Bash League here Wednesday.

Travis Birt`s whirlwind 44 off 26 balls and Owais Shah`s unbeaten 36 off 18 catapulted the Hurricanes to 171 after they elected to bat. Michael Klinger and Aiden Blizzard gave Adelaide a solid start but Doherty (4/17) turned the game on its head with a brilliant spell. Tom Cooper`s gallant innings of 43 off 27 balls gave the Strikers a chance. However, regular loss of wickets meant that the home team were restricted to 157/8. With the win, the Hurricanes moved to the top of the table. Brief Scores Hobart Hurricanes 171/4 in 20 overs (Travis Birt 44, Phil Jaques 41; Johan Botha 2-28) vs. Adelaide Strikers 157/8 in 20 overs (Tom Cooper not out 43, Michael Klinger 36; Xavier Doherty 4-17, Naved-ul-Hasan 2-37) IANS