Deadline: December 24, 2019 at 9:15 AM IST
Venue: Bellerive Oval, Hobart
Pitch report
The average first and second innings scores at Hobart last season read 165 and 164. The chasing team won 5 of 6 matches. Expect the pitch to remain hard and firm throughout the match.
Probable XIs
Hurricanes: D’Arcy Short, Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott (c & wk), David Miller, Macalister Wright/George Bailey, Simon Milenko, Thomas Rogers/James Faulkner, Nathan Ellis, Qais Ahmed, Clive Rose, Riley Meredith
Renegades: Sam Harper (wk), Aaron Finch (c), Shaun Marsh, Tom Cooper, Beau Webster, Daniel Christian, Jack Wildermuth, Cameron Boyce, Kane Richardson, Richard Gleeson, Harry Gurney
NOTE: Pick your fantasy cricket team wisely.
Match prediction
Believe it or not that the defending champions Renegades are stuttering at the bottom of the table, without a win. They failed to defend their score against the Thunder and then fell tantalisingly short of a massive target against the Scorchers. Captain Aaron Finch will have to design a new strategy to register their maiden victory of the season.
On the other hand, the Hurricanes could not maintain their winning momentum, yet again faltering with the bat. If they rely heavily on D’Arcy Short and do not bat as a cohesive unit, they will find themselves sliding down the points table.
Players to watch out for
Qais Ahmed‘s leg-spinners have been difficult to pick. He does not have a wrong ‘un at his disposal, but the way he has bowled thus far suggests that he need not try any variations as of yet. He has taken 5 wickets with a strike rate of 9.6. Riley Meredith has picked a wicket fewer, but his economy reads as low as 4.6.
Barring D’Arcy Short, no batsman from the Hurricanes has been able to get going. Nonetheless, Short is a delight in the world of fantasy cricket. He has been winning the Player of the Tournament awards since the last 2 seasons. Meanwhile, David Miller is yet to find his feat. A big score from him isn’t too far away.
Shaun Marsh has been the Renegades’ best batsman, scoring 97 runs with a strike rate of 136.1 including a half-century. On the other hand, Beau Webster‘s 67 is the highest score for the Renegades this season and it came while chasing. He is one of those players who does not succumb to pressure. Give his form, he might bat ahead of Tom Cooper, at No. 4.
In the bowling department, Kane Richardson has had a good time. The highest wicket-taker of the previous season took a four-wicket haul on Saturday. Meanwhile, Harry Gurney has been excellent with his off-cutters at the death: he has managed 3 wickets.
Also, get to know the tips & tricks on how to play fantasy cricket.