The Hobart Hurricanes are one win from a maiden Big Bash League title after a blistering Riley Meredith spell helped them pip the Sydney Sixers by 12 runs for a place in the decider.
Chasing 7-173, the Sixers needed 21 off the last six balls but Chris Jordan conceded just eight as the visitors ended 5-161 at a sold-out Bellerive Oval on Tuesday night.
Jordan Silk gave the Sixers some hope with 57 from 44 balls after coming to the crease with his side in massive trouble at 5-3 in the third over.
Meredith produced a top-class opening spell in which he topped 152km/h to leave the Sixers reeling.
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He got rid of Josh Philippe for a duck with his fourth delivery before Ben McDermott pulled off a screamer at slip to send skipper Moises Henriques (one) packing.
Silk combined with Kurtis Patterson (48 from 33) and then rookie Lachlan Shaw (33 from 25 not out) to give his side a chance.
However, he fell in the second last over off the bowling of Nathan Ellis to a smart catch from Jordan in the deep.
Dangerous hitter Ben Dwarshuis whacked a six from his second ball to give the Sixers some hope heading into the final over.
“It’s a great feeling but the job is not fully done yet,” Jordan said.
“Riley has been brilliant all season. He’s been really intimidating with his pace. When we see that we start to … feed off that.”
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Hobart have twice made the final — in 2013/14 and 2017/18 — but are one of two franchises without a trophy.
Sydney missed the experience of Steve Smith, Todd Murphy and Sean Abbott, who left Australian shores for the two-Test tour of Sri Lanka.
“(At) 3-5 you’re asking the batting order to do a lot but I thought the boys showed a lot of fight to give us a chance,” Henriques said.
Earlier, the in-form Mitch Owen (36 from 15) got the Hurricanes off to a flyer before Tim David (25 from 10) came to the party late.
The Hurricanes threatened to post a mammoth total after a 0-43 start after three overs, but found the going tough through the middle.
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Sydney all-rounder Jack Edwards produced another fielding highlight, described as the “catch of the summer” by commentator Mark Howard, with a stunning diving grab at point to get rid of Matthew Wade off the bowling of Mitchell Perry.
The catch came just days after Ash Gardener’s spectacular effort for Australia, which also has an argument for the catch of the summer.
Owen, who has relished a move to the top of the order this season, came out swinging with four boundaries off his first eight balls after Hobart lost the toss.
But when he holed out to English wrist spinner Jafer Chohan (2-28) in the fifth over, Hobart stalled.
Caleb Jewell (40 from 41) and McDermott (42 from 31) struggled to get moving before the latter came to life in the power surge.
AAP/ABC
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