Hobart Hurricanes take on Melbourne Stars in the 21st game of Big Bash League 2011-12 on January 9. The match will be played at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart.
Hurricanes (5/6 at
SportingBet) were on a four-match winning streak that was interrupted by Brisbane Heat but not before the table-toppers gave them a good fight. Chasing 202, the tournament’s highest total, for a win, the Hurricanes got to within three runs of a win. Travis Birt (3/1 at
Boylesports) and Owais Shah got to impressive half-centuries but without much support at the other end, their effort wasn’t enough.
That said the Hurricanes are almost through to the semi-final already. Not only do they have eight points, but also possess a net run-rate which is way ahead of all other teams.
However, it is also a case of a winning momentum going into the semi-finals and Hurricanes will not like to take things for granted. They do not have too many chinks in their armour except that their batting barring the pair of Shah and Birt has looked a tad vulnerable. Phil Jacques (7/2 at
bet365) had started off well in the tournament but his form seems to have tapered off a little.
Melbourne Stars (11/10 at
Coral) have the bowling attack to test Hobart. James Faulkner and Clint McKay have had a decent workout in the tournament so far, while Shane Warne, without picking too many wickets has been brilliant.
If the trio can get stuck in to the Hobart batting core, things could get difficult for the home side.
The Stars, however, have their own batting issues. Cameron White’s (11/2 at
bet365) yet to get into double figures in five attempts this tournament, while George Bailey, Luke Wright and Adam Voges have failed to set the stadiums alight.
Only Rob Quiney (7/2 at
Ladbrokes) and David Hussey have shown form and against arguably the best bowling line-up of the tournament, Stars could have their problems. Watch out for how Quiney, a left-hander, and Hussey, an excellent player of spin, go against Xavier Doherty and Jason Krejza in the game.
Hobart Hurricanes squad
TR Birt, MJ Cosgrove, XJ Doherty*, LW Feldman, MG Hogan, PA Jaques, MJ Johnston, JJ Krejza, NJ Kruger, B Laughlin, RJG Lockyear, AEP May, Naved-ul-Hasan, OA Shah, TIF Triffitt†, JW Wells
Melbourne Stars squad
GJ Bailey, JM Bird, JW Dernbach, JP Faulkner, PSP Handscomb, JM Holland, DJ Hussey, AR Keath, CJ McKay, RJ Quiney, CP Simpson, AC Voges, MS Wade†, SK Warne, CL White*, LJ Wright
The Hobart Hurricanes v Melbourne Stars Big Bash League game will begin at 8.00 am GMT on January 9.
