In a pulsating Big Bash League (BBL) encounter at Ninja Stadium, Pakistan’s Shadab Khan delivered a standout all-round performance for Sydney Thunder, but it wasn’t enough to prevent defending champions Hobart Hurricanes from clinching a tense four-wicket victory with just one ball to spare.

Chasing 181, the Hurricanes reached 181/6 in 19.5 overs, sealing their title defence opener in dramatic fashion.

Shadab, making his debut for Thunder after switching from Hurricanes in the off-season BBL draft, showcased his versatility with both bat and ball.

Facing his former side, the leg-spinner contributed a brisk 34 off 24 balls (two fours and a six) lower down the order, helping Thunder post a competitive 180-6 after being sent in to bat.

His knock included a stunning six off Riley Meredith in the 19th over, creaming a near-yorker over deep point

Shadab’s partnership with Bancroft added crucial runs in the middle overs, but his dismissal in the final over – caught by Nikhil Chaudhary off Nathan Ellis – capped Thunder at 180.

With the ball, Shadab turned the game in Thunder’s favour during the chase, claiming 2-36 in his four overs.

Introduced in the sixth over, he bowled economically early on before striking twice in quick succession.

In the 13th over, he deceived Ben McDermott (38 off 24) with a well-disguised googly that crashed into the top of off stump, leaving the batter bamboozled.

Two overs later, Shadab enticed Rehan Ahmed into a miscued loft, caught by Bancroft at long-on.

These wickets reduced Hurricanes to 151-5, injecting life into Thunder’s defence as the required run-rate climbed.

Hurricanes’ chase started explosively, with Mitchell Owen smashing 32 off 14 (six fours and a six) in a 48-run opening stand.

Chaudhary’s 41 off 31 anchored the middle, but Thunder’s spinners – including Tanveer Sangha (1-26) and Chris Green (1-33) – applied pressure.

McDermott’s aggressive 38, featuring three sixes, kept Hurricanes on track until Shadab’s double strike.

The climax unfolded in the final overs, with Matthew Wade (25 off 16) and Chris Jordan (16 not out off 13) steadying the ship.

Daniel Sams’ penultimate over yielded 12 runs, including Wade’s six, but the last over – bowled by Sams – turned chaotic. A

no-ball high over Nathan Ellis’ head gifted extras, followed by dots and a reviewed non-wide. Ellis punched the winning run past the stumps in the 19.5th over, sparking celebrations.