Rain in Sydney on Sunday shaped a frustrating afternoon for both Rishad Hossain and Steven Smith, as the Big Bash League match between Sydney Sixers and Hobart Hurricanes was abandoned at the SCG with no result.
Smith’s much-anticipated return to the BBL after the Ashes lasted just five overs. Opening the batting for the Sixers, the Australia batter made 19 not out from 16 balls, striking a pull shot for six and a controlled four through square leg before play was halted by worsening weather. He was given a reprieve on 15 when Mitchell Owen failed to reach a skied chance off Beau Webster.
The covers came on shortly after 2.30pm and, despite a lengthy delay, play was called off at 4.22pm. At that point, the Sixers were 32 without loss, with Smith and Babar Azam unbeaten. Smith, who scored a Test century at the SCG last week, remains available for the rest of the tournament.
The rain also denied Hobart’s Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain the chance to add to his impressive season. Although he played his ninth match of the campaign, Rishad did not get an opportunity to bowl before the weather intervened. Even so, he remains the competition’s most successful spinner, with 11 wickets from his nine appearances.
The single point gained from the washout was enough to secure Hobart a place in the finals. The defending champions now have 13 points with one group match remaining, although their hold on top spot could still be threatened depending on results elsewhere.
For the Sixers, who sit fourth on nine points from eight matches, the finals race remains finely balanced. They are set to be boosted by the return of Mitchell Starc for his first BBL appearance since 2014 when they face Sydney Thunder on Friday night.
