- Tom Curran is shocked by the flames on the sideline
- Ricky Ponting was delighted about the bizarre incident
- Sydney Sixers defeated the Hobart Hurricanes
Ricky Ponting and his fellow commentators have ridiculed England's Sydney Sixers import Tom Curran after he was driven mad by a flame display during the Big Bash match against the Hobart Hurricanes.
An unbeaten 60 from Steve Smith's replacement Daniel Hughes guided the Sixers to victory over the Hurricanes in Launceston on Monday night.
The mighty magenta, who are 2-0 to start the BBL season, chased down the Hurricanes' 8-135 with four balls to spare and six wickets in hand.
It was largely smooth sailing for the Sixers, but all-rounder Curran had a hairy moment in the field as he collected a ball when a flamer gave him the shock of his life.
Curran visibly winced as the flames flared from the boundary, leaving the commentary team in stitches.
Ricky Ponting and the commentary team found Curran's response entertaining
“Look at Tom Curran, guys, look at this,” Ponting laughed.
“He raised eyebrows when he picked up the ball outside the boundary.
“It's a little close for comfort, that.
“Look at this, look at how he jumps.”
Hughes top-scored with the 50-ball knock after being called up for Smith, who left the squad ahead of Thursday's first Test against Pakistan.
He shared a 47-run partnership with Moises Henriques (20 off 24) to smooth out a fair amount of the chase.
With Sydney needing seven off six deliveries, Hughes leveled the scores with a towering maximum off Nathan Ellis' leg side.
Tom Curran then closed out the game with a boundary through the covers.
The Sixers chased down the Hurricanes' 8-135 with four balls to spare and six wickets in hand
The Sixers took all their chances to improve to 2-0 in the BBL campaign
'Those small totals can be difficult. But it was always only 7.5 (runs per) more than (required),” Hughes told Channel 7.
“He hit the holes and ran hard. It was good to get the job done.”
Hobart suffered a blow when Meredith stopped painfully to his side midway through the third chase after sending a 92mph delivery.
Riley Meredith retired after bowling nine balls on his return to action after a three-month absence.
It was his first match back at national level since suffering a side strain during a one-day cup match for Tasmania in September.
Hurricanes coach Jeff Vaughan said Meredith will have scans on Tuesday.
'It's really a shame for him. He hasn't had much luck lately. Hopefully it's not too bad and we get him back as soon as possible,” Hobart opener Caleb Jewell said.
Jewell (42 of 24) got his side on a flier earlier before the wheels fell off on the power play.
The Hurricanes got off to an explosive start, but gave away easy wickets
Curran (3-19) started the damage when he had Jewell caught midway through the sixth over.
Fellow quick Ben Dwarshuis (2-21) then picked up English import Sam Hain and Australian representative Tim David for single figures in his first over.
Young all-rounder Jack Edwards was in action, with wicketkeeper Josh Philippe making a one-handed diving catch at full strength to grab the edge of Ben McDermott.
Edwards, who finished with 2-18 from four overs, had bowled just one over in his 30 previous BBL matches.
Hobart fell to 5-69 in the ninth, before imports Chris Jordan (16 of 21) and Corey Anderson (17 of 27) stopped the bleeding.
New Zealand's Anderson was the favorite of the Hobart bowlers at 2-10.