The Melbourne Renegades and Hobart Hurricanes clash in the first match of our BBL12 double header on Saturday.
Both the Gades and the Canes have been inconsistent this BBL12 season, but with different trend lines. The Gades burst out of the blocks with three wins and then followed that with four losses before returning to the winners list with a strong bowling effort against the Stars. Meanwhile the Canes have gone loss-win-loss-win throughout the season, and now sit on the wrong side of the ledger with finals quickly slipping away.
It’s a make-or-break game however you look at it, and one that someone has to win!
Check out our BBL betting tips for Renegades vs Hurricanes below! Odds provided with thanks to Neds - check them out if you're looking for a new sportsbook to try!
BBL12 Renegades vs Hurricanes Betting Tips
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, Saturday 6:05pm AEDT
Melbourne Renegades
Renegades Likely XI: Martin Guptill, Marcus Harris, Sam Harper, Aaron Finch, Jono Wells, Mackenzie Harvey, Will Sutherland, Akeal Hosein, Tom Rogers, Kane Richardson, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
The Renegades have always had weaknesses with their batting lineup, but they were able to pull out a bowling performance for the ages against the Stars in the local derby on Tuesday night. Their total of 141 didn’t look enough but a fired-up Tom Rogers ripped through the Stars, taking 5-16 in a superb bowling performance. Mujeeb Uh Rahman was almost as impressive with 2-7 from his four overs, while Akeal Hosein and Kane Richardson help to provide a pretty potent attack.
Can the Renegades find enough runs though? With Nic Maddinson and Shaun Marsh out with injury, and Aaron Finch a shadow of his former self, who is going to make their runs? Marcus Harris has been released from the Test squad and could be champing at the bit for some on-field action, while Kiwi Martin Guptill is a much-needed addition at the top of the order but has yet to hit his straps so far.
Hobart Hurricanes
Hurricanes Likely XI: Ben McDermott, Caleb Jewell, Matthew Wade, Zak Crawley, Tim David, Asif Ali, Mitch Owen, Faheem Ashraf, Nathan Ellis, Paddy Dooley, Riley Meredith
The Hurricanes are an emotional rollercoaster and they fell completely off the rails in their recent loss to the Strikers. Their batting was superb as they posted a franchise-record 229 with rapid-fire contributions from most of their top order. However the utter filth (and that’s being polite) they served up with the ball, and in the field, saw the Strikers land a record run chase of 230 on the back of a Matt Short century.
Pakistani import Faheem Ashraf served up some of the worst bowling you’ll ever see from a professional cricketer and was dispatched to all corners of Adelaide. With Shadab Khan and Jimmy Neesham unavailable, D’Arcy Short on the outer and an apparent lack of faith in youngster Mitch Owen with the ball, the Canes really struggled for bowling options when things went haywire. Tim David was asked to roll his arm over and was more effective than most of his teammates. Paddy Dooley is really the only Hurricane who can continue to hold his head high. The Canes need some bowling help...and fast or the BBL12 season will be over.
Changes have to be made to the side, but who? Asif Ali batting at 7 and not bowling just throws their team balance out of whack. Do they turn to Short? Or do they gamble on Wil Parker as an extra spin bowling option?
Match Prediction
Hard to get excited about either of these teams right now. If I could merge them, I’d love the Renegades bowlers and the Hurricanes batsmen, and then we’d have a great team! Instead it’s all a bit of a mess, and it might be a frustrating game to watch.
The Hurricanes are still sitting in the naughty corner and I'm not prepared to forgive them yet. Marvel Stadium might suit the Renegades' spinners so if they can make some runs, maybe they can pinch it at an underdog price. Gades in a close one with zero confidence.
Same Game Multi
We're hoping to land another juicy BBL12 Same Game Multi with the help of our BBL12 Data Tools.
Caleb Jewell has been in fine form with back-to-back half centuries. He's a young player on the rise and his ability to slog sweep is important against the Gades crafty spinners.
If Marvel is typically low then we're looking to the spinners to make an impact, backing Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Akeal Hosein and Paddy Dooley all to be among the wicket takers for the match.
Caleb Jewell 15+ runs
Mujeeb Ur Rahman 1+ wicket
Akeal Hosein 1+ wicket
Paddy Dooley 1+ wicket
