The second part of the double header in the Big Bash League on Wednesday comes from Marvel Stadium in Melbourne as the Melbourne Renegades host the Hobart Hurricanes in a match which is big in the progress of both teams.
The Renegades really need to win here as they are in danger of getting cut adrift at the foot of the table while the Hurricanes have moved up to third in the table and will be looking for a win to cement that spot.
Melbourne Renegades
This is heading dangerously towards another season of struggle for the Melbourne Renegades. Having finished at the bottom of the table for the last two seasons, the Renegades find themselves there again and in a franchise tournament that is a pretty incredible feat, even allowing for the fact that this one doesn’t have a draft or an auction. It does have specialist coaches though so for the same mistakes to be made year after year just isn’t good enough.
It all started so well for the Renegades when they won their opening match of the season. The probably didn’t beat a huge amount in the Adelaide Strikers but they held their nerve in the pressure situation of the contest and that has been their problem for a while. Since then they have lost four on the spin and in truth they haven’t really been competitive in any of them. You sense if that becomes five losses in a row this season will tamely fizzle out like the last two have.
Hobart Hurricanes
The Hobart Hurricanes lost three of their opening four matches but those games were all against the Perth Scorchers and the Sydney Sixers so you could actually argue they are certainly not going to be down to too many teams on that record. I mentioned after that fourth match that as the schedule eases out for the ‘Canes I would expect them to start coming good and that is exactly what has happened. They have won both matches since then and done it emphatically and with authority and look set to kick on from here on in.
The important thing for the Hurricanes was that they won their latest match chasing a score down. The three previous times they had been asked to chase a score they failed miserably on each occasion, posting no more than 130 after they started their run chase slowly and then after leaving themselves too much to do crumbled in a heap as they had to take risks that were beyond them. There was much more of an assurance in their chase against the Adelaide Strikers last time out and that should serve them very well from here on in.
Special Offer
Open up an account with BetVictor and bet £10 on any sport over this Christmas and New Year period to get £50 in free bets PLUS 100 FREE SPINS! Click the image below for this fantastic offer! New accounts only. 18+ T&Cs apply. Gamble Aware.
18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 odds of 2.00+, no cashout. Get a £10 Sports Free Bet, 2x £10 Football Free Bets & 2x £10 Horse Racing Free Bets, set events at odds 2.00+. Plus 100 Free Spins on Christmas Big Bass Bonanza, no wagering. 7 day bonus expiry. Offer valid between 10:00GMT 23.12.2021 and 15:30GMT 03.01.2022. Card payments only. T&Cs apply. begambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly.
Team News
The Melbourne Renegades expect Kane Richardson to be fit for this match after he missed their last game with illness. James Seymour has been added to the squad for the contest but there is still no Cameron Boyce or Shaun Marsh.
Hobart Hurricanes will be picking from the same squad they used in the win over Adelaide last time out as Scott Boland remains away with Australia and Joel Paris is still out injured. Caleb Jewell will be hoping for a recall.
Betting
These two sides look to be progressing in opposite directions to me so I’ve got to think that the Hobart Hurricanes will win this match but they are too short in a T20 for me to back, especially when you consider we would be taking on the likes of Aaron Finch, Nic Maddinson and Mohammad Nabi who could win matches on their own in the space of five overs. The handicap is just a bit too large for me to get stuck into so I’ll go into one of the side markets for a punt.
That comes in the form of the Hurricanes’ boundaries. This Renegades attack has gone round the park in the previous couple of matches and while both of those were against the Perth Scorchers, this Hobart side bat deep and have the power to do something similar against them. I get the feeling this Hurricanes batting is about to light up right the way through and on boundaries which are perfectly accessible I think they can go beyond 18.5 boundaries in their innings.
Tips
Back Hobart Hurricanes – Over 18.5 boundaries for a 3/10 stake at 1.91 with William Hill
Back them here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2021
