The Big Bash League is back in Brisbane on Sunday when the struggling Brisbane Heat take on a side who are certainly not struggling at the minute in the form of the Hobart Hurricanes in what should be an entertaining contest.
The Hurricanes are sitting pretty in third place in the table heading into this match whereas the Heat have lost all three matches thus far and are already eight points off a play-off spot and will have plenty of work to do if they do not come out on top in this match.
Brisbane Heat
The Brisbane Heat just haven’t been at the races so far in this tournament. The big issue is their bowling attack has had a cannon fodder look to it and unless that changes anytime soon it is hard to see them being competitive in any way. This doesn’t surprise us because we tipped them to come bottom of the table and there has been nothing to suggest that prediction is not going to come true. They need a big turnaround and quickly.
It isn’t just their bowling attack which hasn’t delivered the goods in the three matches so far. Their top order has been found wanting and although the scoreboard suggested they pushed the Adelaide Strikers last time out, they were never in the running until the last few overs when a miracle nearly took place. Whether they need to change their order or their personnel remains to be seen but something needs to happen. They could do with being a bit smarter too.
Hobart Hurricanes
The Hobart Hurricanes have been one of the best teams to watch in the tournament so far and it will be interesting to see if they can be as effective on the road as they have been at home, with them leaving Blundstone Arena for the first time this term. They have been brutal with the bat so far in this competition and the positive for them is that their dangerous openers haven’t really fired like we know they can yet either so there is more to come from them.
I don’t think the Hurricanes have necessarily been terrific with the ball but they have bowled the right bowlers at the right time and they have all held their nerve in the key moments. There is a lot to say for that and while it sounds like a simple and obvious thing to do, there aren’t many teams in the competition who are doing it. There is still more to come from the Hurricanes as they get some key players back so there is a lot to like about them thus far.
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Team News
The Brisbane Heat have Lewis Gregory available for the first time after he has completed his quarantine period. His arrival is important because the Heat are without their captain Chris Lynn who is out with the injury he sustained prior to the loss to Adelaide last time out. Jimmy Peirson will keep the captaincy.
The world number one T20 batsman Dawid Malan is available for the Hobart Hurricanes after he has also completed his quarantine period. He comes into the squad in place of Will Jacks and is likely to open the batting. That could be the only change for the Hurricanes.
Betting
I’ve got to think the Hobart Hurricanes will win this match but they are plenty short enough to do so which leads me to taking the boundaries instead for a bet on this contest. The Hobart Hurricanes have probably been the most aggressive side in the competition with the bat to date and I don’t expect much to change in that regard here against a bowling attack that is severely underperforming so far this season.
The Hurricanes are pretty aggressive with the ball as well and don’t mind shipping some boundaries to get wickets and although when taking the boundaries we would like Chris Lynn playing I still think there is enough in the Heat to get a few to the boundary. They might not need to hit all that many though to cover a 35.5 line. There were 34 boundaries in a match where 150 was the first innings score in the last match on this ground but with Hobart having a much more aggressive batting line up than the Strikers and playing much better I expect there to naturally be more here. I’m happy to get on the over on this line.
Tips
Back Over 35.5 boundaries for a 3/10 stake at 1.91 with William Hill
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