The Hurricanes finished the regular season in third place, but entered this matchup with significant personnel losses. Meanwhile, the Stars (4th) arrive with a fully strong side, looking to settle the score after Hobart’s dominance in recent years.
A huge blow for the hosts, regular skipper and death-bowling specialist Nathan Ellis has been ruled out due to an injury suffered against the Heat. Ben McDermott takes over the reins. The Hurricanes also lose the services of the English sensation Rehan Ahmed (international duty) and Jake Weatherald. Bengal leg-spinner Rishad Hossain has been a revelation this season and will have to lead the spin department in Rehan’s absence. Beau WebsterThe former Stars player was in top form against his old side, providing a dual threat with his towering height and mediocre strength.
Unlike their opponents, the Stars have assembled an unchanged fourteen-man roster. They ride high on the form of Haris Rauf And Peter Siddlewho have taken 34 wickets between them this season. While the big show Glenn Maxwell has had a quiet tournament by his standards, he remains the most dangerous player on the pitch in high-pressure knockout matches. Sam Harper, He currently sits third on the Golden Bat rankings, but his explosive start at the top of the rankings could take away from Hobart’s play in the Powerplay.
HH vs MS, BBL|15 Knockout: Match Details
- Date and time: January 21 (Wednesday); 2:00 PM IST / 8:30 AM GMT / 7:30 PM local
- Location: Bellerive Oval, Hobart
HH vs MS, Head-to-Head record in BBL
Matches played: 23 | Melbourne Stars won: 15 | Hobart Hurricanes won: 08 | No result/draw: 0
Bellerive oval pitch report
The Bellerive Oval pitch for this knockout match is expected to be a balanced surface offering something for everyone. Historically, it has been a batting-friendly card with the ball landing nicely on the bat, evidenced by an average first innings score of 174 in recent BBL outings. However, the evening sea breeze in Hobart usually helps bowlers with new balls with early swing and movement. While pacers enjoy extra bounce and carry, the surface can slow down as the game progresses, making variations and slower balls crucial. Spinners may struggle to get their turn, but dew can become a deciding factor for the second bowling.
Selections:
Melbourne stars: Thomas Fraser Rogers, Sam Harper (wk), Joe Clarke, Campbell Kellaway, Marcus Stoinis (c), Hilton Cartwright, Glenn Maxwell, Tom Curran, Mitchell Swepson, Haris Rauf, Peter Siddle, Liam Hatcher, Blake Macdonald, Hamish McKenzie
Hobart Hurricanes: Tim Ward, Mitchell Owen, Beau Webster, Ben McDermott (c), Nikhil Chaudhary, Matthew Wade (wk), Chris Jordan, Jackson Bird, Rishad Hossain, Riley Meredith, Billy Stanlake, Will Prestwidge, Charlie Wakim, Macalister Wright
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HH vs MS, BBL|15 Knockout: Today’s Match Prediction
Case 1:
- Melbourne Stars wins the toss and bowls first
- Hobart Hurricanes power play score: 50-60
- Hobart Hurricanes total score: 180-190
Case 2:
- Hobart Hurricanes wins the toss and bowls first
- Melbourne Stars powerplay score: 40-50
- Melbourne Stars total score: 160-170
Competition result: Team batting second to win the match.
READ also: Finn Allen’s blistering century sees Perth Scorchers secure victory over Melbourne Renegades in BBL|15
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