Deadline: January 15, 2020 at 12:40 PM IST
Venue: Manuka Oval, Canberra
Pitch report
The first match of the season at Manuka Oval ended in no result due to bad quality air. Before the game was called off, the Strikers had managed 161 for 5 thanks to Jake Weatherald’s 43 and Jonathan Wells’ 55*. The pitch otherwise looked like a belter for the batsmen.
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: Sam Harper
Batsmen: Alex Hales, Calum Ferguson (vc), Shaun Marsh (c), Alex Ross, Usman Khawaja
All-rounders: Mohammad Nabi, Daniel Sams, Beau Webster, Chris Morris
Bowlers: Cameron Boyce
NOTE: Pick your fantasy cricket team wisely.
Highest run-scorers
Shaun Marsh: Runs 319 | SR 116 | 50×2
Beau Webster: Runs 310 | SR 145 | 50×2
Calum Ferguson: Runs 295 | SR 137 | 50×3
Usman Khawaja: Runs 247 | SR 130 | 50×2
Alex Hales: Runs 223 | SR 141 | 50×2
Alex Ross: Runs 166 | SR 127
Highest wicket-takers
Daniel Sams: Wickets 17 | Economy 8
Chris Morris: Wickets 10 | Economy 8.4
Cameron Boyce: Wickets 10 | Economy 7.3
Power players
Mohammad Nabi could not change the fortune of Renegades in his first match of the season. He scored a mere 6 runs and finished with bowling figures of 1 for 33. However, Nabi is one of the best players in the world of fantasy cricket. He has a knack of picking wickets at crucial phases and adds vital runs with the bat. All-rounders, to put things into perspective, often fetch more points in fantasy games.
Daniels Sams has finished with a wicket in only 2 of 9 games. He has sniped up either three or two wickets. With 17 wickets, Sams is the highest wicket-taker of the season.
Beau Webster may not have been a favourite of the fantasy players, but he has scored only 9 runs fewer than Shaun Marsh, the Renegades’ highest run-scorer. Perhaps they ignore him because he bats in the middle-order and is overshadowed by the other stars in the team.
Match prediction
In the previous match between these teams, the Thunder edged past the Renegades by 6 wickets. Usman Khawaja and Alex Hales scored brisk half-centuries in a chase of 170 runs.
While Renegades are struggling at the bottom with no wins in 9 matches, the Thunder are at the seventh spot with 4 wins and as many losses. Going by the current form and team combination, the Thunder have a clear edge over the defending champions.
Probable XIs
Thunder: Usman Khawaja, Alex Hales, Callum Ferguson (c), Alex Ross, Matthew Gilkes (wk), Chris Morris, Daniel Sams, Arjun Nair, Chris Tremain, Liam Bowe, Brendon Doggett
Renegades: Shaun Marsh, Marcus Harris, Sam Harper (wk), Beau Webster, Mohammad Nabi, Tom Cooper, Daniel Christian (c), Samit Patel, Jack Wildermuth, Cameron Boyce, Joe Mennie
Also, get to know the tips & tricks on how to play fantasy cricket.