It is do or die for the Hobart Hurricanes in the first of two matches in the Big Bash League on Friday. They host the Sydney Thunder at Blundstone Arena knowing that they have to win the match if they are to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The Thunder start out knowing that if they win their two remaining matches they will be safely into the postseason and looking to regain the title they have won previously. Anything but that opens the door to a couple of sides.
Hobart Hurricanes
The Hobart Hurricanes kept their hopes alive when they edged out the Melbourne Renegades last time out, although they won’t need telling they were somewhat fortunate to get over the line in that one. Nevertheless, they held their nerve when the door opened and that should in theory serve them well here and in what they will hope will be an equally important final game of their regular season.
Their batting really delivered against the Renegades and while their bowling wasn’t perfect throughout, it got the job done and that is all they need to do. That wasn’t actually a knockout match at the time because of how the table was, but this one is so the fact they won when under pressure should serve them well, especially if they can find some improvement with the ball and maintain it.
Sydney Thunder
The Sydney Thunder had the chance to make life a little easier for themselves when they took on the Perth Scorchers last time out, but they were well beaten in the match to leave them needing to be careful to make sure they make it into the playoffs, which should really have been a formality given the start they made. They have run into the weather on a few occasions and been touched off a couple of times too but it has all transpired against them.
The Thunder bowlers were blasted out of the west in the last match and that is something they won’t be able to afford too many times if they are going to progress to the latter stages of the competition. It might just have been a bad day at the office but they’ll need it to be because they are up against an extremely powerful batting line up in this match. One or two too many batsmen have gone quiet at the wrong time as well.
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Team News
Having struggled without their big players for the last couple of weeks, two of them return in one go as D’Arcy Short comes back from international duty and James Faulkner returns from injury. Caleb Jewell and Jake Reed go out.
The Sydney Thunder also bring an international player back into their ranks as well with Chris Tremain coming back. He replaces Brendan Doggett who didn’t really make the most of the chance he was given.
Betting
Having been against the Hobart Hurricanes for the last couple of weeks, I am actually siding with them here. Too many Sydney Thunder players have lost their form at the wrong time for my liking, especially with the bat, and if they are unable to give Alex Hales any support in this contest it could be a long day at the office for them. Even if they do the wickets have dried up for key bowlers and you fear for the visitors.
Hobart Hurricanes’ biggest problem so far has been a lack of personnel rather than anything they are necessarily doing wrong, so to have Short and Faulkner back is a huge thing and can only give them further confidence after they won without them the other night. You can see Hobart growing with their returning players while the Thunder look to be fading just too much. 8/11 isn’t the best price in the world but I think the home side are worth taking at it.
Tips
WON – Back Hobart Hurricanes to beat Sydney Thunder for a 4/10 stake at 1.73 with William Hill
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