The Hurricanes’ decision to field first in a virtual quarter-final didn’t bring the desired results, despite Nathan McSweeney’s early departure.
Usman Khawaja’s brisk 9-ball 23 set the tone for Marnus Labuschagne and Matt Renshaw, whose 69-run partnership laid a strong foundation for a total of 201 runs in 20 overs.
In response, Caleb Jewell and Mitchell Owen came out all guns blazing, accumulating 47 runs in the powerplay before a sudden and surprising interruption at the venue.
While the crowd at the Gabba was captivated by the explosive batting of the Hurricanes’ openers, their attention was soon diverted to thick smoke rising near the DJ area.
The cameras quickly captured the scene, revealing a fire breaking out near the DJ setup, with an individual attempting to douse the flames with a fire extinguisher. Much like the Hurricanes’ aggressive batting, the flames showed no signs of relenting, only for the situation to escalate further.
Play was delayed at The Gabba when a fire broke out in the stands. #BBL14 pic.twitter.com/v2J2OktfuF
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 16, 2025
The fire brigade arrived promptly, managing to extinguish the fire without causing significant damage, and thankfully, no one was injured.