Harper unleashes career-best to put Hurricanes in a spin

Sam Harper has made a stunning return to form with a career-best innings to lead the Melbourne Renegades to a six-wicket win over the Hobart Hurricanes at Marvel Stadium.

Harper had struggled in five previous digs this KFC BBL season, averaging 5.4 with three ducks to his name.

His latest effort got off to an inauspicious start when his indecision led to returning Test squad member Marcus Harris being run out.

But the diminutive wicketkeeper quickly refocused and settled into a groove at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, blasting 89 off 48 deliveries.

The brilliant innings included seven sixes before Harper was eventually out caught by Tim David off Nathan Ellis (1-13).

Jon Wells (22no) and Will Sutherland (4no) guided the Renegades home as they reached 4-164 in reply to the Hurricanes' 8-162 with 11 balls to spare.

The result lifted the Renegades (5-4) into the top half of the ladder as they chase a finals berth after three consecutive wooden spoons, while the Hurricanes (3-5) are slipping further away.

Harper was given a lifeline on 59 through Riley Meredith's dropped catch – the Hurricanes' 15th in eight matches.

The visitors were made to pay as the Renegades took the power surge ahead the next over, in which Harper whacked 26 off Joel Paris.

Earlier, there was drama in the second over of the match when the Renegades thought they had Hurricanes opener Caleb Jewell trapped lbw by Mujeeb Ur Rahman (0-37).

They went upstairs for a review when the batter was given not out and snicko confirmed there was no bat involved.

But the third umpire said ball tracking was not available, meaning the on-field call stood.

Jewell, who was on one at the time, survived and Renegades stand-in captain Aaron Finch was left bewildered.

"It just doesn't make any sense, does it? I don't know how to explain that," Finch said during the Fox Cricket broadcast.

Two balls later, Jewell rubbed salt in the Renegades' wound when he smacked Mujeeb for six.

Jewell (28 off 17) eventually fell to Tom Rogers (2-40), top-scoring with fellow opener Ben McDermott (28 off 23).

Rogers was also damaging in the field, running out danger men Matthew Wade and Tim David with direct hits, while Kane Richardson (2-20) bowled superbly.

The Hurricanes suffered a pre-match blow when they lost left-arm spinner Patrick Dooley to a finger injury while practicing catches during the warm-up.

Dooley – the Hurricanes' leading wicket-taker and most economical bowler this season – was sent for an X-ray which fortunately revealed no break to the pinky finger of his bowling hand.

Paris was called in as his replacement.