The BBL heads back to Launceston on Sunday afternoon with the Hobart Hurricanes hosting the Adelaide Strikers. We have a full betting preview for the game below.
Hobart Hurricanes Squad (13): Matthew Wade ©, Qais Ahmad, George Bailey, Scott Boland, Jake Doran, Nathan Ellis, Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott, David Miller, Jake Reed, Tom Rogers, Clive Rose, Mac Wright
Adelaide Strikers Squad (13): Travis Head ©, Wes Agar, Harry Conway, Rashid Khan, Michael Neser, Harry Nielsen, Liam O’Connor, Phil Salt, Matt Short, Peter Siddle, Billy Stanlake, Jake Weatherald, Jon Wells
Hurricanes vs Strikers Betting Tips
Hobart Hurricanes
After a no-result against the Sixers in Sydney, the Hurricanes must win this game to keep their slim finals hopes alive. They’re now 7th on the table with 3 wins and 6 losses. Having not played since Monday at Blundstone Arena, it’ll be interesting to see if the rest will benefit or hurt their chances. It starts with Matthew Wade getting the team off to a fast start in the powerplay. They really need to get David Miller back into form urgently and Ben McDermott has been inconsistent in his first season as the ‘Canes skipper, maybe failing under the pressure of captaincy. However, it’s good to see George Bailey hitting the ball well in what could be his last season. The bowling department has obviously struggled without Archer, Meredith and Faulkner. So they just to bowl as a unit and take regular wickets, especially against Weatherald and Salt in the powerplay.
With the Hurricanes top-order struggling for form, the 37-year-old George Bailey has been impressive in his last few innings. As the Hurricanes collapsed to 98 all out against the Scorchers, Bailey top-scored with 36 off 31 balls. Previously, he also top-scored against the Thunder with 43 runs on a tricky wicket at the Sydney Showground. He’s beaten 20+ runs in 3 of his 4 innings and if the Strikers “strike” early, Bailey will likely be called upon for another middle-order salvage job.
Adelaide Strikers
The Strikers proved they’re a good bounce-back team after a loss as they smashed the Heat by 10 wickets despite losing to the same side in Brisbane a few days earlier. They’ve found another spinner in Liam O’Conner after his 3 wicket haul and with the brilliant bowling by Rashid Khan, the Strikers now have a very formidable 1-2 punch in the spin department. Phil Salt showed his aggressive style with 5 sixes in a 67 not out and Jake Weatherald boosted his average with 33 not out. The question for the Strikers will be how they perform on the road to Tassie. As they sit 3rd on the table, they’ll need to work on their form away from the Adelaide Oval as the finals near. So this matchup in Launceston with the out of form Hurricanes should be an interesting test of their form.
An interesting stat regarding the Strikers vs Hurricanes is the fact the team from Adelaide has hit the most sixes against them in 8 of the last 9 meetings. Without D’Arcy Short, the Hurricanes really lack six hitters. Matthew Wade and George Bailey are the two best bets but it’s pretty slim pickings otherwise, especially with Miller/McDermott out of form. Now for the Strikers, Salt and Weatherald can both clear the boundaries with ease and should take advantage in the powerplay. Meanwhile, the likes of Head, Wells, Short, Neser and Rashid Khan are candidates for a few sixes when the Strikers need quick runs in the death overs.
Strikers Most Sixes
$2.00
Prediction
It’s been a tough season for the Hurricanes and we just can’t see them beating the confident Strikers. Adelaide is coming off a massive 10 wicket win over the Heat and have strengthened up a few of their weaknesses, such as their 5th bowling option. Rashid Khan will be tough to play once again and the Hurricanes batting lineup hasn’t played a game since they were rolled for 98 in Hobart on Monday. So they could struggle to post a par total if they’re batting first or chase down a big Strikers total.
Adelaide Strikers H2H
$1.76
