Rishad Hossain began well but ended with a tough outing in the Big Bash League as Mitchell Marsh led the charge with a century.
Rishad bowled two tight overs at the start and slowed the scoring. He gave away only 11 runs in his first spell. But the control slipped in his final two overs. Marsh and Aaron Hardie took him on and scored freely.
Against Perth Scorchers on Thursday, Rishad finished with figures of 0 for 35 from four overs. It was the first time since his Big Bash debut that he failed to take a wicket. Even on a difficult day, he was more economical than all Hobart Hurricanes bowlers except Rehan Ahmed.
Rishad bowled seven dot balls from his 24 deliveries. He conceded three fours and one six. Marsh hit that six and went on to play a commanding innings.
Marsh scored 102 runs from 58 balls. He hit eleven fours and five sixes. He started carefully but grew stronger with time. Rishad troubled him early with good length and turn. Marsh broke free later with confident shots.
After the Powerplay, Rishad again showed control. Marsh could not score from the first two balls of the over. Hardie rotated the strike and kept the scoreboard moving. The partnership then began to grow.
Hardie attacked in the middle overs. He took 26 runs from one over and pushed the total higher. Marsh followed and punished loose deliveries from the other bowlers.
Hobart brought Rishad back in search of a wicket. Marsh welcomed him with a six and reached his fifty from 33 balls. Rishad kept the rest of the over tight but the pressure stayed.
In his final over, Rishad conceded two boundaries. Hardie finished the over calmly with singles. Rishad ended with no wickets after taking wickets in his previous four matches.
Marsh became more aggressive after his fifty. He struck three fours in one over and moved into the nineties. He reached his hundred from 55 balls. It took him 22 balls to go from fifty to the milestone.
Marsh fell at the start of the final over. Hardie then closed the innings strongly. He stayed unbeaten on 94 from 43 balls. He hit nine fours and five sixes. The total reached 229.
It was a tough night for the bowlers. Marsh and Hardie made sure Perth finished in a strong position.
