Jake Weatherald has come from the clouds, hitting 80 from 32 balls to keep the Adelaide Strikers' Big Bash League final hopes alive and end the top-four quest of the Hobart Hurricanes.
Weatherald, a late inclusion at No.3 for the injured Chris Lynn, was unbeaten as the Strikers chased down Hobart's 6-167 with 25 balls to spare and eight wickets in hand.
He whacked nine boundaries and five sixes at Blundstone Arena on Thursday night as he reached double figures for the first time in four games this season.
Weatherald treated Paddy Dooley with contempt, launching the spinner for three fours and four sixes including a maximum to finish the game.
Dooley finished with figures of 0-53 from 2.5 overs.
The result lifts the Strikers from fifth to fourth on the ladder with nine competition points - one ahead of the Melbourne Stars.
The Hurricanes remain sixth, three competition points adrift of the top four with one game to play.
Weatherald rated the knock as better than his match-winning century in the 2017/18 BBL final - also against the Hurricanes.
"It is probably the best I’ve batted," he told Fox Cricket.
"I was sitting there thinking I wasn't going to play again this year.
"I got a call at 12 o’clock at night saying ‘you’re playing’ and I thought … 'Nothing to lose, may as well go out and swing hard'.
"It has probably been a couple of years brewing. I’ve been working really hard on my T20 cricket."
Adelaide will be sweating on the fitness of Lynn for their final regular-season game against the Sydney Thunder on Sunday.
The 33-year-old, who pulled out of Thursday's match with a hamstring twinge, said he was a slim chance of lining up against the Thunder.
Whatever happens, Lynn won't be available for the finals - the big-hitter will depart to play in the United Arab Emirates' International League T20 competition.
Adelaide skipper Matt Short set up the run chase with a 25-ball 39 before Weatherald shared a 108-run partnership with Adam Hose (25 not out from 21 deliveries).
Earlier, spinner Cameron Boyce was at his miserly best, taking 2-17 from four overs after the Strikers opted to field first.
It was the second time Boyce had tormented the Hurricanes in three days, having taken 3-13 in a player-of-the-match performance in a win on Tuesday.
Mac Wright top-scored for Hobart with 37 from 27 balls before he was undone by Boyce in the 13th over to a line-ball stumping call from the third umpire.
Tim David, who has struggled for runs, hit a 10-ball 22 to give the Hurricanes a boost late in their innings.
Hobart welcomed the return of Matthew Wade from back issues, with the opener scoring 14 from 12 deliveries.
