The Big Bash League is back in Melbourne on Thursday for the final game before the break for the ODI and it is a massive match for both the Melbourne Renegades and the Hobart Hurricanes at the Etihad Stadium.
Both sides head into this match with two wins to their name this season and the losers will stay on that number and face a near impossible task to make it through to the semi-finals so this is near enough knockout cricket.
Melbourne Renegades
It has been a bad time for the Melbourne Renegades to lose a bit of form. They go into this match off the back of back to back defeats and urgently need to spark some form over their final three matches if they are to make it into the semi-finals. The positive is that Aaron Finch hasn’t made the ODI squad so they have their best player around.
Heading into the tournament there was the feeling that the Renegades bowling attack would be their main strength but actually in the last two matches that has been their weakness and they need to get back to being the economical side they set out to be at the start of the tournament. If they do that they still have more than enough with the bat to be a real contender in this.
Hobart Hurricanes
It has been back to back defeats for the Hurricanes too and they too have come at the wrong time so they desperately need to get back on track as well. They have played an extra match to the Renegades so this one might be even more important for them than the Melbourne side. A defeat here pretty much ends their season immediately.
The Renegades aren’t the only ones who have struggled with the ball in recent times although they haven’t really bowled well all season. That is something that will have to change if they are to win their last two and keep their feint semi-final hopes alive. George Bailey avoiding an international call up ensures they have enough in the batting department.
Team News
The Melbourne Renegades have got ruthless ahead of this match. Chris Tremain has been axed after being expensive in the previous match while Tom Beaton makes way too. Nathan Rimmington and Marcus Harris return.
Hobart Hurricanes have also made a couple of changes to their squad with Shaun Tait and Clive Rose omitted with Sam Rainbird coming back into the squad and Jake Reed in line to make an appearance.
Betting
I think these two are fairly similar in make up and how they have performed recently. Both have struggled with the ball while both have looked decent in patches with the bat so this may come down to simply who is the better side.
For me that is the Melbourne Renegades. Although they haven’t bowled well in the last two games there is no doubt in my mind that they have the better bowling attack and they also have enough in the batting department to get the job done. It is must win for both sides but it is the home side I fancy to get over the line here.
Tips
Back Melbourne Renegades to beat Hobart Hurricanes for a 4/10 stake at 1.73 with Betfred
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