Australian Test cricketer Beau Webster had a heated exchange with teammates Mitch Owen and Matthew Wade during the Hobart Hurricanes’ loss to the Sydney Sixers on March 15, 2024. The incident occurred as the Hurricanes struggled to contain the Sixers, who posted a formidable total of 198 runs. Webster’s frustration became evident after a boundary hit by Lachlan Shaw, which he believed could have been prevented had Owen been positioned correctly in the field.
During the 14th over, Webster bowled to Shaw, who smashed a boundary through cover. Following the shot, Webster expressed his anger towards Owen, who had positioned himself too close to the wicket instead of taking a spot on the circle. Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, providing commentary for Channel 7, noted the tension, stating, “There’s just a bit going on between Webster and Owen. I think Webster is disappointed that Mitch Owen was so close.”
After completing his over, Webster again confronted Owen, and Wade intervened in the discussion. “Did you tell him to go?” Webster asked Wade, referencing Owen’s positioning. Wade replied, “I saw you tell him to go. I didn’t tell him to stay in.” Despite the tension, Webster and Owen were seen chatting amicably post-innings, indicating that there were no lingering hard feelings.
The Hurricanes faced a challenging night in the field, with the Sixers dominating the match. Steve Smith led the charge for the Sixers, scoring 65 runs off 43 balls, marking his fifth consecutive half-century. Smith’s performance included aggressive shots, including a six that soared into the Brewongle Stand, and set the tone for the innings.
Chasing a target of 199 runs, the Hurricanes encountered early setbacks, losing both openers during the powerplay. A brief partnership between Webster (24 runs) and Ben McDermott (40 runs) provided some hope, but the team collapsed dramatically after Webster’s dismissal just before the drinks break. The Hurricanes were ultimately bowled out for 141 runs by the 18th over, with the Sixers’ Joel Davies taking key wickets and contributing to the field with a spectacular one-handed catch to dismiss Wade.
Davies reflected on the performance, stating, “Setting a total of 198, we knew it should definitely be enough. To put a performance on like that with the ball, it was awesome.” The victory sent the Sixers to Perth for the championship decider, a rematch against the Perth Scorchers, marking the sixth time in 15 BBL seasons that the two teams have faced off for the title.
Earlier in the match, the Hurricanes were impacted by the absence of their captain Nathan Ellis, who was sidelined due to a hamstring injury. His leadership was missed as the team struggled to contain Smith’s onslaught. McDermott acknowledged Smith’s pivotal role in the match, saying, “We had solid plans against him… just a top-quality player, tough to contain.”
As the BBL season progresses, the Hurricanes will need to regroup after this setback, while the Sixers celebrate their commanding performance and look ahead to the final with renewed confidence.
