The finals begin in the Big Bash League on Tuesday when the top two in the table meet for the first place in the title match when the Hobart Hurricanes welcome the Sydney Sixers to the Ninja Stadium for the Qualifier.
The equation is a simple one for these two sides. The winner will progress to the final next Monday and they will host that title showdown. The losers won’t be done though as they will have another chance to make it through on Friday.
Hobart Hurricanes
The Hobart Hurricanes were the best team in the regular season and their reward for that is a final on home soil. They bookended the first part of their campaign with defeats but in the middle of that they were able to find seven wins from the eight other matches with the one that they didn’t win being a washout. One of those wins was on this very ground against the Sydney Sixers, a match they won by 50 runs and that will fill them with confidence going into this Qualifier.
The Hurricanes have been very nicely balanced. They have bowled really well in this competition and we can gloss over their showing on Sunday against the Melbourne Stars because they kept their main bowlers fresh in that outing. They have batted a lot better than many would have expected them to with all of their power hitters having enjoyed good campaigns. If a couple of those hitters can come off here then a place in the final is very much in the grasp of the Hobart outfit.
Sydney Sixers
The Sydney Sixers probably wouldn’t have wanted to be going on their travels for a place in the final but they know that if they win this match they will be back in the title game and will host it, and even if they come up short here they will host the Knockout match which gives them a second crack at facing off for the trophy. This has been a bit more of an up and down season for the Sixers overall. When they have been good they have been very good but there have been times they have come up short.
The problem the Sixers are having more and more in this competition is a change around in personnel in the latter stages of the tournament. Players who are in other leagues leave and then international players have come and gone as well so there is a lot of reshuffling going on. They still look to be solid enough with the ball even though Sean Abbott will be a big loss here but with the bat there is a clear hole without James Vince. Steve Smith filled it initially but he’s in Sri Lanka now.
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Key Players
Mitch Owen has the potential to blast this match wide open for the Hobart Hurricanes. If he can bat through the powerplay and get after the bowling then with Sydney missing one of their regular spinners there might be no pegging them back.
Ben Dwarshuis started the season really well with the ball but he has fizzled out a little in recent matches. The Sydney Sixers need him to get stuck into this Hobart batting order at the start of the innings to keep their opponents in check.
Betting
The Hobart Hurricanes have already beaten the Sydney Sixers on this ground this season by 50 runs and it is hard to see how the visitors can make up that deficit here. In that match, Jackson Bird took 4-16 and he isn’t around for this one while Akeal Hosein bowled four overs for 25 and he is no longer with the Sixers either. James Vince didn’t offer too much in that match but there is no getting away from the huge hole he leaves in the batting.
Vince has missed the last three matches but he is still the Sydney Sixers’ highest run scorer this season which highlights how important he has been to this side. Sean Abbott and Jackson Bird are second and third in the Sydney wicket chart too and they are not here. Hobart aren’t really missing any big hitters. Their three highest run scorers are still in place as are their three leading wicket takers and they just have more match winners in their side and more of them in form too and I think that leads to a home win here.
Tips
Back Hobart Hurricanes to beat Sydney Sixers for a 3/10 stake at 1.80 with Boylesports
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