Two of the top underperformers in BBL12 – the Adelaide Strikers and Hobart Hurricanes - will face off on Thursday in a do-or-die clash at Adelaide Oval.
Both teams need to start banking points if they want to contend for the title, so both teams will be fired up for this encounter.
Josh Nevett provides his full match preview and BBL12 betting tips below.
BBL12 Strikers vs Hurricanes Preview & Betting Tips
Adelaide Oval, Thursday 5th December, 7:15pm (AEDT)
Adelaide Strikers
Predicted XI: Matt Short, Henry Hunt, Chris Lynn, Adam Hose, Colin De Grandhomme, Thomas Kelly, Harry Nielsen, Rashid Khan, Henry Thornton, Wes Agar, Peter Siddle
Since starting the season 3-0, the Strikers have lost four consecutive games to sit right on the edge of the BBL12 top five.
It comes as a surprise, as Adelaide have some of the best individual performers in the tournament – Chris Lynn currently holds the ‘Golden Cap’ with 260 runs, while Henry Thornton tops the wicket-taker charts despite missing the last game.
Perhaps a lack of batting depth has cost the Strikers – Lynn and Matt Short have done much of the heavy lifting, but they require better support from the likes of Henry Hunt, Adam Hose, and Tom Kelly.
There is still plenty of room for optimism though, as the Strikers boast a quality bowling attack led by Thornton, Khan and the evergreen Peter Siddle.
As such, Adelaide will be confident that they can arrest their slide with a home victory against the up and down Hurricanes.
Hobart Hurricanes
Predicted XI: Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott, Matthew Wade, D’Arcy Short, Tim David, Asif Ali, Mitch Owen, Faheem Ashraf, Nathan Ellis, Paddy Dooley, Riley Meredith
The Hurricanes continued their pattern of alternating between wins and losses with a big victory against the Strikers.
Chasing 177, openers Caleb Jewell (54 off 28) and Ben McDermott (53 off 33) took the game into their own hands and set up the comfortable win, while Tim David (27 off 13) reminded us of his power with a quick cameo at the end.
It was the kind of performance we expect from the preseason title favourites, who will now be looking to build momentum towards finals time.
English batsman Zak Crawley joins the squad for this match after replacing Shadab Khan, however, I can’t see a spot for him in a side which is full of top-class hitters and bereft of fifth bowler options.
It’s a good problem to have for Hobart, as they head to Adelaide chasing a second win on the trot.
Match Prediction
The Hurricanes finally flexed their muscle with the bat on Monday, putting a solid Adelaide bowling unit to the sword.
Adelaide Oval may be hostile territory for Hobart, but the visitors should relish the flat wicket and short boundaries on offer.
While the Strikers will also be looking forward to playing on home soil, I question the depth of their batting line-up in comparison to the Hurricanes.
As such, it will likely take a special effort from Short or Lynn to topple the Hurricanes, whom I expect to make a huge charge in the final weeks of the season.
So, can Adelaide manage an upset? I don’t think so.
Hobart Hurricanes
$1.78 (2 Units)
Same Game Multi
Meredith has been a consistent wicket-taker in the BBL over a long period of time. He has taken at least one wicket in eight of his last ten matches, and has taken two or more in six of those games.
This bet has been a great multi-booster all season. Caught is the most common dismissal method in the BBL by some margin, and top-order batsmen tend to dismiss themselves in this form of the game rather than fall to unplayable deliveries.
Wade has been in great form this season, hitting 15+ runs in four of his last five innings. Adelaide is usually a great venue for batsmen, so I’m backing the pocket rocket to make a few on Thursday night.
Player to Take 2+ Wickets – Riley Meredith
Method of First Dismissal 1st Innings - Caught
Player to Score 15+ Runs – Matthew Wade
