Deadline: January 11, 2020 at 12:40 IST
Venue: Sydney Showground Stadium, Sydney
Pitch report
The pitch at the Sydney Showground Stadium is sticky. The ball grips the surface, making it difficult for the batsmen to hit against the line. However, if you have the power and timing that Glenn Maxwell and Chris Lynn are gifted with, the nature of the pitch shouldn’t be a concern.
Probable XIs
Thunder: Usman Khawaja, Alex Hales, Calum Ferguson (c), Matthew Gilkes (wk), Chris Morris, Daniel Sams, Alex Rose, Chris Tremain, Arjun Nair, Nathan McAndrew, Jonathan Cook
Hurricanes: Matthew Wade (c), Caleb Jewell, Simon Milenko, George Bailey, David Miller, Ben McDermott (wk), Thomas Rogers, Clive Rose, Nathan Ellis, Qais Ahmed, Scott Boland
NOTE: Pick your fantasy cricket team wisely.
Match prediction
Both teams have been blowing hot and cold, winning 3 of 7 completed matches. However, the Thunder have a stronger team on paper, and with the Hurricanes failing to play a cohesive unit time and again, their chances of winning become more remote.
Players to watch out for
Calum Ferguson is at the third position in the list of most runs this season. He has scored 288 runs with a strike rate of 140 including 3 half-centuries. He plays safe and keeps the innings together, eventually firing on all cylinders at the death.
Usman Khawaja has either gone full throttle or perished early. He has scored two fifties and one score in 30s. In all he has managed 212 runs with a strike rate of 132.
Barring his 68 against the Renegades, Alex Hales has not had any significant contribution. He got off to a good start in the previous two matches but failed to capitalise on it. He has accumulated 168 runs with a strike rate of 137.7. That being said, he has been a favourite of the fantasy players. Not many make him a captain or vice-captain but they don’t dare to leave him out of their teams either. When he gets going, he becomes unstoppable.
Daniel Sams is the highest wicket-taker of the season. His 15 wickets have come with an impressive strike rate of 10.9. In addition he can use the long handle to devastating effect, providing crucial runs at the death.
Chris Morris has terribly failed with the bat, but he has made amends with the ball and in the field: he has taken 8 wickets and 4 catches.
Matthew Wade made headlines in his very first match of the season. He scored 61 of the team’s 126 runs. Not to forget that this is the format and tournament he thrives in: he was the second-highest run-scorer in the previous season.
Scott Boland was remarkable in the only two matches he played thus far. He followed his bowling figures of 2 for 29 against the Scorchers with a spectacular three-wicket haul against the Heat. He dismissed the likes of Max Bryant, Matt Renshaw and Joe Burns.
Also, get to know the tips & tricks on how to play fantasy cricket.