Deadline: January 30, 2020 at 2:10 PM IST
Venue: Bellerive Oval, Hobart
Pitch report
The average first and second innings scores at Bellerive Oval read 180 and 139 respectively this season, suggesting that the pitch slows down as the match progresses. The chasing team has won only once in four games, getting all out twice. Toss, thus, will be crucial.
The spinners have taken 21 of 56 wickets, including a five-wicket haul by D’Arcy Short.
Fantasy team
We have opted for a fantasy team on the basis of players’ impact, recent performances, and credit points.
You can also check players’ performances in the last 5 matches. Tap on the players’ images to get the data while making your fantasy team.
Wicketkeeper: Ben McDermott, Matthew Wade
Batsmen: Alex Hales, Callum Ferguson, David Miller, Usman Khawaja
All-rounders: Daniel Sams (c), D’Arcy Short (vc), Chris Morris
Bowlers: Qais Ahmed, Scott Boland
NOTE: Pick your fantasy cricket team wisely.
Power players
Daniel Sams broke the all-time record for most wickets in a season, surpassing Kane Richardson’s tally of wickets in the previous season. Sams’ 25 wickets have come with a strike rate of 11.3. To make matters more interesting, Sams’ only four-wicket haul of the season came at the very venue.
Alex Hales‘ last three scores read 85, 63, and 47. He is that kind of a player who can turn the game on its head at any point.
Despite playing 6 games fewer than the other batsmen, Matthew Wade and D’Arcy Short are the top run-getters for Hurricanes. Both have scored a hundred each this season. However, Short’s performance with the ball makes him the top candidate for captaincy in fantasy cricket.
Highest run-scorers
Alex Hales: Runs 449 | SR 144 | 50×4
Matthew Wade: Runs 337 | SR 174 | 100×1 | 50×3
Calum Ferguson: Runs 335 | SR 127 | 50×3
D’Arcy Short: Runs 320 | SR 129 | 100×1 | 50×3
Usman Khawaja: Runs 296 | SR 118 | 50×2
Ben McDermott: Runs 252 | SR 125 | 50×1
Highest wicket-takers
Daniel Sams: Wickets 25 | Economy 7.8
Chris Morris: Wickets 15 | Economy 8.2
Scot Boland: Wickets 14 | Economy 8.1
Qais Ahmed: Wickets 12 | Economy 8
Nathan Ellis: Wickets 11 | Economy 8.2
Value picks
Macalister Wright‘s role is clear: he has to hold the innings together and bat through. This very approach helped him score consecutive half-centuries. He may not be as popular as David Miller or George Bailey, but he has been a dark horse in fantasy cricket.
Scott Boland‘s entry to the season was 5 games late and the Hurricanes might have regretted it. He has managed to pick as many as 14 wickets in 9 matches.
Match prediction
Both teams have won a game against each other this season. To make matters worse, both teams go neck and neck in terms of team combination and momentum. Going by the pitch report, toss will decide the fortune.
Probable XIs
Hurricanes: Matthew Wade (c), D’Arcy Short, Macalister Wright, Ben McDermott (wk), David Miller, George Bailey, James Faulkner, Clive Rose, Nathan Ellis, Qais Ahmed, Scott Boland
Thunder: Usman Khawaja, Alex Hales, Callum Ferguson (c), Alex Ross, Chris Morris, Arjun Nair, Daniel Sams, Jay Lenton (wk), Chris Tremain, Gurinder Sandhu, Jonathan Cook
Also, get to know the tips & tricks on how to play fantasy cricket.