Big Bash League: Mitch Marsh breaks the shackles with second Perth Scorchers 100 in Hobart Hurricanes assault

Mitch Marsh has left his form woes firmly in last year, as he bludgeoned a savage 100 against the Hobart Hurricanes to set a massive total to victory.

The Australian white-ball captain has had a torrid Big Bash campaign thus far, scoring just 25 runs at an average of 6.25 from his four games.

However, a new year brought a fresh start as he feasted on a buffet of Hurricanes bowling, posting 102 off just 58 balls.

He was well supported by Aaron Hardie, who picked up where he left off against the Sydney Thunder, unbeaten on 94 as he and Marsh put on a record 164 runs for the third wicket, the second biggest partnership in franchise history.

It left the Hurricanes chasing a mighty 229 for victory, needing to pull off the highest run chase in their history.

Marsh wasted no time in setting the tone, hammering Chris Jordan over midwicket off his first ball of 2026.

Fellow opener Finn Allen was given a life on 11 after Matthew Wade put down a chance low to his right as it dipped late after edging Riley Meredith behind.

However, Allen couldn’t make the most of it as he was duped by a Nathan Ellis slower ball that crashed into the top of off stump.

But the next mistake from the former Australian keeper would prove far more damaging, dropping Marsh on 18 as a quick leading edge left him wrong-footed and flew off his outstretched glove for four.

Still the Hurricanes briefly controlled the momentum after Mitch Owen dished out some revenge to Cooper Connolly after being overlooked for the Twenty20 World Cup, removing him with the first ball of his spell as the star allrounder top-edged a pull straight in the air for a simple caught and bowled.

It is just the second time Connolly has fallen for a single-figure score this season, both coming against the Hurricanes.

It allowed Hobart to turn the screws, sneaking through quick overs of spin with just 27 runs coming from the five overs before the drinks break.

Looking to inject some life back into their innings, Scorchers took the Power Surge at the earliest opportunity and were helped by a wayward nine-ball over from Ellis.

Marsh was sweating on anything short, using his reach to pump balls into the short legside boundary.

Jordan then served up a series of low full tosses as Hardie, promoted to No.4 after finally finding touch against the Thunder, pumped him for six straight boundaries, including a six off the last ball that was dropped over the rope.

An eye-watering 38 runs came off the Surge, with the Scorchers now back in top gear.

Marsh brought up his first Big Bash 50 since 2022 shortly afterwards and then launched his own assault on Owen as he and Hardie brought up their 100-run partnership off just 54 balls.

The reintroduction of spin did not stem the bleeding as Marsh took just 22 balls to convert his 50 into a second Big Bash 100 as records tumbled.

A relieved Marsh pointed to the dugout and acknowledged the crowd in what was an otherwise subdued celebration, and was filthy to hole out in the final over.

Hardie was given four balls to chase his own century, but fell six runs short with the Scorchers putting on 149 runs in the last 10 overs.

However, having failed to defend 250 against the Brisbane Heat earlier this season on what is a belter of a pitch the Scorchers must now back it up in the field.