T20 Blast 2023 | WOR vs WAS, 71st Match | Cricket Exchange Fantasy Prediction Today - Fantasy Tips and Teams
T20 Blast 2023 | WAS vs NOT, 42nd Match | Cricket Exchange Fantasy Prediction Today - Fantasy Tips and Teams
All-round Warwickshire trounce Somerset to win County Championship 2021-22
BBL10| Match Report: Cool and calm Jimmy Peirson takes Heat to the Knockout
Brisbane Heat wicket-keeper batsman and vice-captain Jimmy Peirson showed an exemplary sense of calm and composure as he scored an unbeaten 47 off 44 balls to take his team past the Adelaide Strikers by six wickets in a low scoring thriller at the Gabba. He was awarded Man of the Match for his match-winning performance. A chase as short as 131 got way more interesting than was expected of it as Heat lose two quick and important wickets of skipper Chris Lynn and Marnus Labuschagne, giving Strikers a chance to bring themselves into the context. Soon after, Sam Heazlett, who took Max Bryant’s place in the side was also dismissed cheaply to force Heat in a shell. Wes Agar, Michael Neser and Peter Siddle took the three wickets. It was then that Pierson joined Joe Denly and the duo constructed a rebuild fo the home team. The two of them put together 69 runs in 59 balls and took Heat to 92 in the 14th over before a rash shot from Denly saw him getting dismissed for 40. On the very next ball, Joe Burns was provided with life as he was dropped in the slips off Danny Briggs. But that was the last chance that the Heat gave strikers as they rushed away with the win soon after. Earlier in the evening, Strikers, contrary to belief, chose to field first after winning the toss. The decision didn’t turn out to be a great one as their openers couldn’t get on with the game and a slow wicket played its role in it as well, as most of the balls kept low. This meant that Strikers could get to only 45 runs in the eighth over. From there onwards, the wickets kept falling and Labuschagne was the destroyer in chief, picking up three wickets for 13 runs in his three overs, as Strikers could reach up to only 114 at the loss of seven wickets while in their 19th over. Hadn’t it been for Jon Wells’ three fours in the last over, reaching to 130 would also have been difficult for the Strikers at the end. With this win, Heat have now made it to the Knockout game of the Finals where they will face Sydney Thunder on 31st January at the Manuka Oval.
BBL10 | Match Preview: Strikers and Stars fight for entry into top four in Rashid Khan’s last league game
In the middle of the table clash, where one team is differentiated from the other by just two points, two heavyweights in Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Stars would lock horns at the Adelaide Oval on 11th January. Both the teams have lost their previous games and would be looking not only to bounce back but also to register their importance on teh points table as well. The spin duo will make the difference for Strikers For Adelaide Strikers it would be a great chance to give their star performer Rashid Khan a grand send-off with a victory as it would be the last game in which he would be taking part in this year’s BBL. But for that to happen, Rashid, 22, would have to put in the hard yards himself along with Englishman Danny Briggs. The two spinners among them have had a total of 22 wickets and have given away just 431 runs between them, at an average of 19.59 and an economy rate of just above seven. So it is going to be the two spinners who have got to take on the responsibility of tackling the big hitters in the lineup of the stars that have the likes of Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, and the destructor from the last game, Nick Larkin. Batting is the best bet for Stars On the other hand, the Stars would be looking to make batting their foray as more often than not in this tournament, they have been led down by their bowlers and the last game was an example of one such match where their bowlers conceded endlessly. Also, Haris Rauf came back only in the last game so he has to get into a rhythm and they are missing an injured Nathan Coulter-Nile big time. Adam Zampa has also not been at his best which has caused problems for the Stars. On the other hand, their batters, especially Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran look in great touch and Maxwell, although couldn’t get going in the last game is also in superb form. It is these two with a bit of help from the likes of Hilton Cartwright, Larkin, and the Specimen (if he continues to play despite very average showing in tournaments so far) that the Melbourne side can get back in business. Strikers vs Stars: Match Details Match Number- 36 Date and Time: 11th January, 13.45 hrs IST, 18.45 hrs Local, 08.15 hrs GMT Venue: Adelaide Oval Broadcast and Live Streaming: Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV Pitch report So far in the four games that have taken place at the Adelaide Oval this season, only one has been fiercely fought, else rest have had one-sided results. For such results though, the pitch is not responsible whatsoever and it has been a true wicket with assistance for the bowlers and real value for shots for the batsmen. Bat Flip and Weather With no chances of rain, but a cloud cover of 91% in the night, the team winning the bat flip would look to chase, and hence bowling first would be a preferred choice. Strikers Strongest XI Matt Renshaw, Philip Salt, Alex Carey(w/c), Jake Weatherald, Ryan Gibson, Jonathan Wells, Rashid Khan, Danny Briggs, Wes Agar, Harry Conway, Daniel Worrall Stars Strongest XI Andre Fletcher, Marcus Stoinis, Hilton Cartwright, Nick Larkin, Nicholas Pooran, Glenn Maxwell(c), Seb Gotch(w), Liam Hatcher, Adam Zampa, Billy Stanlake, Haris Rauf
BBL 10 Match Preview: Distraught Renegades seek relief against impressive Strikers
After losing to the Adelaide Strikers for by a big margin of 60 runs on Tuesday, the severely out-of-form Melbourne Renegades will taken on them again to avoid their eighth consecutive defeat in the ongoing season of the Big Bash League (BBL). Such poor form is very rare and Renegades would need all the luck to get out of it. Their opponents, unfortunately for them, happen to be a very competitive side as well. Currently, at the fourth position in the standings, the Adelaide side has enough motivation to get a win. Playing at home makes the Strikers even more dangerous, especially with pitches a little more conducive to spin. Renegades in Distress Two teams were really struggling about a week ago in the BBL’s present season – Renegades and Perth Scorchers. The latter have now notched up three wins on a trot but the difficulties for the former team continues unabated. A first-ball duck for captain Aaron Finch was a good symbol of the problems being faced by the team. Finch is the best batsman in the team but he hasn’t been able to lift his team. His usual opening partner Shaun Marsh missed the last match and his availability for the next game is not certain. The promotion of Sam Harper hasn’t worked yet but there is hardly any better option. Mackenzie Harvey batted as an opener on Tuesday and did show some promise. This is a promising sign and every such positive is important for a beleaguered team. Mohammad Nabi and Imad Wasim, the two foreigners in the middle order, haven’t brought any change of fortunes. Their bowling has been more reliable than their batting. But there isn’t great depth of talent, at least proven one, in the ranks. So, the Renegades have to hope for a turnaround in form from the existing players. The bowling looks more promising. Imad bowled well with the new ball in the last match. His bowling style – tight line and length – is suited to this format. Mohammad Nabi is also a very useful option but it’s his younger compatriot Noor Ahmed who has got everyone excited. Highly talented but slightly uncooked, he could be the man to make a difference. A lot would also depend on Kane Richardson who has been average so far. Spin was the preferred option for Adelaide, based on the composition of the side, still, without the support of pacers, the slower bowlers will be easy to handle. Strikers in Good Stead The bowling department of Strikers, on the other hand, is looking impressive. Rashid Khan was always going to be a star but the emergence of Danny Briggs as an equally reliable bowler has compounded the problems for opposition batsmen. The leadership of Peter Siddle has been working beautifully in this season for the Strikers. First, as the captain and now as the seniormost bowler in the side, he has led his troops brilliantly, adding deadly Yorkers to his arsenal alongside his other tricks. The support given to him by Wes Agar is invaluable. The space for a third seamer is still contested. Harry Conway did well in the last game and is likely to retain his spot. On the batting front, the promotion of Matt Renshaw to the opening slot worked a bit. His 35 off 28 showed signs of him getting into the rhythm. The nature of BBL this season has been such that big scores are rare. So, even a 30-odd at the start is a valuable contribution. That’s what Renshaw managed on Tuesday. His partner Phil Salt is a dangerous player and has been in good form. However, his opening partner for most of the season, Jake Weatherald, benefitted greatly from a change in his position. From opening the innings, Jake went down to the no. 6 position and scored a half-century. The middle order of the team has also assumed a very impressive look. With Alex Carey, Jonathan Wells, and Ryan Gibson, all in good form, and Rashid at no. 7 showing mettle with the bat also, this batting order is among the best in the league presently. Renegades vs Strikers: Match Details Venue: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Date and Time: December 8, 12:40 PM IST, 5:40 PM Local, 7:10 AM GMT Broadcasters: Sony Sports Network, Sony LIV Pitch Report The Adelaide Oval has produced good pitches in the two matches it has hosted so far. The sign of a good pitch is that everyone has something to play with. That’s been the case here. Spinners, pacers, and batsmen have all got an opportunity. However, the spinners may play a bigger role with the passage of time since the pitch will have wear and tear. Weather and Bat Flip A nice warm day awaits the two teams on Friday. The temperature in the evening would be around 21 degrees, not uncomfortable for the players. With no cloud cover or rain expected, batting first would be the default option, though chasing wouldn’t be any tougher. Probable XIs Renegades: Aaron Finch (C), Shaun Marsh, Mackenzie Harvey, Sam Harper (Wk), Mohammad Nabi, Beau Webster, Imad Wasim, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Jack Prestwidge, Kane Richardson, Josh Lalor, Noor Ahmad Strikers: Matt Renshaw, Phil Salt, Alex Carey (C &Wk), Jonathan Wells, Ryan Gibson, Jake Weatherald, Rashid Khan, Danny Briggs, Wes Agar, Peter Siddle, Harry Conway
There is no end to Renegades' misery as Finch and Co. lose seven in a row
Melbourne Renegades’ miserable BBL 10 campaign continued on its distraught path as Aaron Finch and Co. lost yet another match which they should have won. The Renegades were beaten comprehensively by a huge margin of 60 runs by the Adelaide Strikers, even while chasing a par total of 172 runs at the Adelaide Oval. The match was over in the 10th over Although the scorecard will show that Renegades got out of the reach of the match probably after the power surge, however the match for the Red Machine was lost in the 10th over itself when they needed four runs to get from that over to get the Bash Boost point, but instead of going for those runs, Mohammad Nabi decided to play three balls and got only one run, even as Sam Harper had got out playing a rash short just before him. With one ball in hand, young Mackenzy Harvey needed to score three runs, but of course, he could not as Danny Briggs bowled a brilliant over to defend the four runs, giving away just a solitary single. 'Gades can't seem to get out of the hole The Renegades team got into a hole after that and much like every match, in this game too there was no coming out of it. Even after losing Aaron Finch off the first ball, the ‘Gades had an impressive start courtesy of some cracking shots from two youngsters in Harper and Harvey. They put on 67 runs off 55 balls but most importantly set up a platform for the likes of Nabi, Beau Webster, and Jake Fraser-McGurk to get on with it. But that did not happen as Nabi was choked for the flow of runs and even after playing 16 balls, which included four dots in the power surge, could only score seven runs. Similar was the case for Webster and Imad Wasim who couldn’t just get on with the game. McGurk on the other hand came too late to create any difference. Worst Power Surge ever This was the worst power surge in the history of the BBL as Renegades could only score five runs of the two overs and lost two wickets in the process as well. Firstly Nabi was served four yorkers by Wes Agar, the fourth one getting his wicket, and then in the second over Peter Siddle worked his magic and got rid of Imad Wasim by conceding just three runs. Danny Briggs the game changer The England Pro Briggs was once again at his best throwing in yorkers at will and not letting the run rate. He bowled four overs and gave away just 17 runs for two wickets. At one stage the Sussex man had figures of 1/8 in just three overs. It was he who stopped the flow of runs as Rashid Khan the premium spinner of the Strikers wasn’t at his best today. The Weatherald-Gibson Earlier in the day, Strikers after winning the toss had decided to bat first. But the decision really didn’t go their way as they lost Phil Salt early at the score of 14 runs in the fourth over. After that skipper, Alex Carey and Matt Renshaw built a slow but steady partnership of 54 runs before spinners in Nabi and Imad pulled on their tricks and from 68/1 the Strikers were soon 72/4. But after that Jake Weatherald and Ryan Gibson built a 53 ball 98 run partnership during which they hit Josh Lalor for 23 runs in one over and got a total of 67 runs from their last five, taking the total to 171, which at one point of the time looked impossible. What's Next? Strikers with this victory have now moved on to the fourth position and will take on Renegades in a reverse leg game on 8th January. Renegades on the other hand seemed to have lost any confidence that they might have had coming into this game and would look to play for pride from now onwards.
BBL 10: Match Preview | Beleaguered Renegades take on Dangerous Strikers
Bottom of the table Melbourne Renegades will try and start resurrecting their campaign when they take on a very capable Adelaide Strikers team in the latter’s team home ground. Things have been getting from bad to worse for the team in Red. Their last match saw them getting bundled out for just 89 in what was their sixth loss in a row. The Strikers too suffered a loss in their last game but their problems don’t seem to be all that deep-rooted. Their batting and bowling departments are well-endowed and only a slip-up saw them going down to Sydney Sixers. Any Hope for Renegades? It is hard to figure out how a team that has Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh opening the innings for itself can be so ineffective. Marsh has been in good form but Finch is yet to go all guns blazing this season. The impressive Sam Harper has been promoted up the order – he opened in place of Finch in the last game – but this move is yet to bring any rewards. Then the problems begin. Rilee Rossouw hasn’t done justice to the faith shown in him while the likes of Beau Webster and Jack Prestwidge haven’t set the stadiums alight yet. Mohammad Nabi’s presence in the batting line-up is useful due to his experience. Imad Wasim may get another go but he is yet to become a proven commodity. The bowling is also devoid of a big impact maker. Spinners are very crucial in this tournament and Renegades have pinned their hopes on the teenage sensation from Afghanistan Noor Ahmed. He has shown potential but, due to his age and being a leggie, he can go for runs as well. The other Afghan spinner – Mohammad Nabi – is an off-break bowler. His experience is valuable but would require weight of runs from his batsmen to be of greater impact. Peter Hatzoglou is another tweaker on whom the team has put the burden of expectations. Safe to say he is yet to join the league of the likes of Rashid Khan or even Tanveer Sangha. The pace attack is led by Kane Richardson, a bowler with great potential, but doesn’t have any big names to support him. Josh Lalor, Will Sutherland, and Zak Evans are all a roll of the dice. For the Renegades to succeed, the Finch-Marsh pair has to fire while the senior bowlers like Richardson and Nabi have to lead the way. Then, one of the less high-profile guys have to emerge as the x-factor. Only then can the Melbourne side get out of the rut they are in. Strikers Keen to Get Campaign Back on Track The biggest problem for Strikers in the last game was the lack of support for Rashid Khan. The Afghan spin maestro was in great form again in the last match but received no support from his fellow bowlers. The failure of Danny Briggs in the last match took hurt the strategy of the Adelaide side. Peter Siddle has mastered the yorker but he held himself back in the last match and missed the mark completely when he did come on. But a man with his experience should find a way back into rhythm. Wes Agar and Daniel Worrall too shouldn’t be deemed incompetent after just one match. Regarding the batting, there are concerns about the form of Matt Renshaw. But the last game brought Jonathan Wells back into form. Jake Weatherald also enjoyed a good time in the middle. This is a great development. The middle order now looks stronger. With Phil Salt and Alex Carey in the top order to set the stage, Strikers are in a good shape. Renegades vs Strikers: Match Details Venue: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Date and Time: January 5, 1:45 PM IST, 5:45 PM Local, 8:15 AM GMT Broadcaster: Sony Sports Network, Sony LIV Pitch Report The two matches played in Adelaide so far has provided some help for pacers. Good bounce has been available for bowlers. This may continue in the upcoming matches, although the pitch at Adelaide can also become slow and allow spinners to come into play. Whether this happens in the next match remains to be seen. Weather and Toss Few clouds would be spotted in the sky on Tuesday evening but without much chance of rain. The weather will be cool in the evening. In other words, weather won’t play much of a part in the outcome of the match. Probable XIs Renegades: Sam Harper (Wk), Shaun Marsh, Aaron Finch (C), Beau Webster, Mohammad Nabi, Rilee Rossouw, Jack Prestwidge, Kane Richardson, Will Sutherland, Peter Hatzoglou, Noor Ahmed, Strikers: Phil Salt, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey (C, Wk), Jonathan Wells, Jake Weatherald, Ryan Gibson, Rashid Khan, Daniel Worrall, Danny Briggs, Wes Agar, Peter Siddle
Struggling Scorchers take on high-flying Strikers in rematch
Two days ago, Adelaide Strikers emerged victorious over Perth Scorchers at the home ground of the former. The two sides will renew their rivalry tomorrow at the same ground. This is a must-win game for the Perth side as their season so far has been miserable. Three losses and one no-result in four games mean they are still winless. Adelaide, on the other hand, are improving with every game. Their captain Peter Siddle is leading from the front with good performances while their talisman Rashid Khan has once again established his supremacy in this format. Strikers are the favourites, but this is cricket, T20 at that, so anything can happen. Scorchers Looking Clueless Nothing has gone right for the Scorchers so far in this season. Their batsmen haven't got going while the bowlers, despite enough potential, haven't been able to create enough troubles for the opposition batsmen. Mitchell Marsh and Ashton Turner have shown glimpses of their big-hitting prowess. But that has to come after a strong base has been created by the top order. This is where the Perth-based side has been lagging behind. Colin Munro is a great striker of the cricket ball. However, he is known more for playing cameos than big innings. But even a cameo of 30 or 40 can set the Scorchers on their way to a big score. That strong punch has been missing. The team would have big hopes from Jason Roy. He has joined the team recently and his batting at the top could be the difference maker for the beleagured side. The bowling unit looks strong on paper but the key component in it - leg spinner Fawad Ahmed - hasn't been getting enough wickets. In this season of Big Bash League, leggies have been making a big mark. If Fawad doesn't lead the way, Perth would have a handicap. Rest of the bowlers, Andrew Tye, Jason Behrendorff, and Jhye Richardson are capable. If they have a good total to defend, they can be very effective. Strikers Find Their Stride Adelaide have found a great leader in Peter Siddle. A veteran with many years of experience, he has another string to his bow season by, seemingly, mastering the yorker. This skill seems to have brushed off on Wes Agar as well. But their trump card is Rashid Khan, and he is in full form. He won the Man of the Match award in the last game, against the same opposition he will be facing tomorrow. But in a bonus for the team, he is not the only spinner in the team making an impact. Danny Briggs has come up with great performances also. While Rashid has a bagful of tricks to fox the batsman with, Briggs relies on a tight line and lack of spin to get wickets. With these two taking wickets, Strikers are in a good space. Regarding their batting, there is great scope for improvement. Opener Phil Salt has been looking good but the middle order needs to contribute more. The likes of Matt Renshwaw, Jonathan Wells, and Matthew Short have been disappointing. That's a weak spot in Strikers's armour. Scorchers vs Strikers: Match Details Venue: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Date and Time: December 31, 1:45 PM IST, 7:15 PM Local, 8:15 AM GMT Broadcaster: Sony Sports Network, Sony LIV Pitch Report Adelaide usually has a flat pitch which helps spinners. This seems to be the case this time as well since spinners did get help in the first match of this season played at the Adelaide Oval. More of such conditions can be expected for the upcoming game. Weather and Toss Weather on new year's eve will be perfect. No rain is expected and temperatures in the evening will hover around 20 degrees. Weather will not be a factor in the toss-winning captain's decision. Probable XIs Scorchers: Josh Inglis (Wk), Jason Roy, Colin Munro, Liam Livingstone, Mitchell Marsh, Ashton Turner (C), Aaron Hardie, Jhye Richardson, Andrew Tye, Jason Behrendorff, Fawad Ahmed Strikers: Phil Salt, Jake Weatherald, Alex Carey (C, Wk), Matt Renshaw, Jonathan Wells, Matthew Short, Rashid Khan, Daniel Worrall, Danny Briggs, Wes Agar, Peter Siddle
BBL10 | Strikers vs Scorchers: All-rounder Rashid Khan shines as Adelaide humble Perth
Rashid Khan would be on cloud nine today as apart from getting the T20i player of the decade award from the International Cricket Council, he also led his BBL side Adelaide Strikers to a huge 71 run win over the Perth Scorchers at the Adelaide Oval. The spin twin strike hard Although the last two wickets were picked up by pacers Peter Siddle and Daniel Worral, it was the spinners that did all the damage before that, rendering Scorchers helpless in the middle. Between leg spinner Rashid Khan and left-arm orthodox Danny Briggs, the strikers had four important scalps of the Scorchers lineup. While Briggs, 29, picked up dangerous Mitchell Marsh and lower-order hitter Jhye Richardson very cheaply, the man from Afghanistan was instrumental in dismissing overseas star Colin Munro and all-rounder Aaron Hardie. The two of them gave away just 26 runs in six overs to account for the four wickets. Briggs, the man from England was simply unplayable as he conceded just eight runs in his three-over spell. Perth and the art of failing miserably In the three matches so far this season, the Scorchers have always given up the game before it was over. Even in this game, after doing well in the bowling department to being 40-1 in four overs, the Scorchers just let it go, and that was the biggest mistake with no batsman hanging around or trying to build a partnership. From 40-1 in four overs while chasing 166 on a decent wicket to getting all out for 94 tells that the issue at hand is deeper and requires a transformative change to be dealt with. Rashid Khan the basher with the bat Earlier in the day, Scorchers after winning the toss had sent in Strikers to bat first. The opening pair of Jake Weatherald and Phil Salt made good use of the short of length bowling by the Scorchers at the start. But soon, the introduction of Mitchell Marsh changed things a bit for the team. The all-rounder started bowling a bit fuller and thereby forcing batsmen to commit mistakes. As a result, he got the wicket of Weatherald. Inspired by him, the others too started bowling a little fuller of the short of a length. From 57 for none, the Strikers were reduced to 95-4 and then to 110-5. It was at this moment that Rashid Khan, full of excitement after him being announced the T20I cricketer of the decade, started teeing off the ball, scoring a quickfire 13 ball 29 with the help of three sixes, taking the team total past the 160 mark. Phil Salt was the only other batsman that looked solid as the opener scored 51 off 31 balls. Rashid’s knock involved three sixes and just one four. Khan,22, was adjudged Man of the Match for his all-round abilities. What's next? A repeat of this encounter will be witnessed on 31st December where the Scorchers would like to get a win to start their campaign in a true sense as well as to avenge this humiliating loss. Strikers on the other hand would be looking to consolidate their position in the top half of the table.
Match Preview: Winless Scorchers up against imperfect Strikers in key contest
Perth Scorchers are looking to finally get off the mark in the ongoing 10th season of the Big Bash League (BBL). They will have another opportunity when they take on Adelaide Strikers on Monday. The Strikers won their last match by the barest of margins. Their performances have been inconsistent with the bowling department showing more efficiency than the batting one. They too are in need of another victory as their current place in the points table - fifth - isn't satisfactory. Strikers Look to Strike Again For the Strikers, the biggest question going into the game against Scorchers is the availability of their ace bowler Rashid Khan. After two relatively unimpressive performances, Rashid came into his own in the last match and showed why he is the premier leg-spinner in the world. However, he then sustained an injury which isn't as bad as feared but still bad enough to cloud the chances of his participation in the game on Monday. He has been kept in the squad and would undergo a fitness test before the match. Luckily for Strikers, Danny Briggs has also found form. His performance in the last match almost overshadowed of the more high-profile tweaker in his team. His tight line and length and ability to bowl with the new ball would come in handy. Among pacers, Peter Siddle is in really good form and is bowling the yorkers really well. Wes Agar too, looks in good rhythm. The batting, though, needs to pick up. Alex Carey and Jack Weatherald are the only two batsmen in the team to have got half-centuries so far in the tournament. There will be pressure on other batters to justify their place in the team. Scorchers Seek First Win On paper, Perth Scorchers' bowling attack looks very competent. However, they haven't produced an impressive performance so far and there hasn't also been individual efforts worth taking note of. What is most disappointing is the fact that Fawad Ahmed, the leg-spinner, hasn't got going. Leg-spinners have emerged as leading match winnners in this format, especially in Big Bash. Fawad has to step up. The batting looks very capable. Colin Munro and Mitchell Marsh have looked in good touch. The New Zealander is a very good striker of the cricket ball and his timing seemed perfect in the previous matches. Marsh too scored a good fifty in the last game. On top of that, Ashton Turner too got some lusty hits under his belt. These three men would lead the batting charge but more would be required from the rest of the batting line-up. Strikers vs Scorchers: Match Details Venue: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Date and Time: December 28, 1:45 PM IST, 7:15 PM Local, 8:15 AM GMT Broadcaster: Sony Sports Network, Sony LIV Pitch Report This will be the first match of the season at Adelaide. So, the pitch would be a bit of a mystery. However, traditionally, the strip on this ground is flat and and helps spinners a bit. This would bring the tweakers in both sides in play. Weather and Toss A cool evening awaits both the teams for their match on Monday. No clouds or rain are expected and the temperature is expected to fall below 15 degrees. Since no overcasat conditions are expected, the toss would not be a big factor. It usually isn't anyway in T20 matches. Probable XIs Strikers: Phil Salt, Jake Weatherald, Matt Renshaw, Jonathan Wells, Matthew Short, Harry Nielsen (Wk), Rashid Khan (if fit), Daniel Worrall, Danny Briggs, Peter Siddle (C), Wes Agar Scorchers: Josh Inglis (Wk), Colin Munro, Joe Clarke, Mitchell Marsh, Ashton Turner (C), Cameron Bancroft, Jhye Richardson, Aaron Hardie, Andrew Tye, Jason Behrendorff, Fawad Ahmed
BBL 10 | Match Preview: Adelaide Strikers seek to stop Hobart's Hurricane
Just two days after facing each other, Hobart Hurricanes and Adelaide Strikers would be up against each other once again in the 10th edition of the Big Bash League (BBL). The first round went to the Hurricanes as they registered an 11-run win over Strikers at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart. The venue now changes to Aurora Stadium in Launceston. For the Hurricanes, riding high after two consecutive victories, there is very little that needs to be changed. The Strikers, on the other hand, have started their season with a loss. They would look for more contributions from their primary batsmen who went down in a heap against the Adelaide side. The trump card of Strikers, leg-spinner Rashid Khan, also had an uncharacteristically off day in his team's opening match of the season. His quality and consistency in the past suggests he will get back his form sooner or later. Hurricanes Looking Good With two victories in two matches, the Hobart team is off the blocks without any hiccups in BBL. For them, one of the biggest positives has been the form of their leading bowler James Faulkner. The left-armer had a good outing in both the games so far. Johan Botha, former South African spinner making a comeback in cricket, struggled in the first match but regained his composure in the second. His form provides strength to the spin-bowling department and justifies his place in the playing XI. There is some concern for the Hurricanes regarding the form of Nathan Ellis. The find of the last season, he is yet to hit his stride. One good match could bring him back into the kind of form that made him one of the team's most valuable players. The Hobart side did suffer a big setback in its first match, against Sydney Sixers, when both their openers, including T20 specialist D'Arcy Short, were sent back to the pavillion for ducks. But both hit back in the second game to put on a partnership of 63 in the match against Strikers. Short was in full flow again, scoring 72 off just 48 balls. His form at the top of the order will be very important. The middle order looks reasonably stable with Colin Ingram havaing scored a fifty and Peter Handscomb looking solid, though without a substantial score to his name. Tim David and James Faulkner provide good depth to the batting line-up. Improvements Needed for Strikers One match is too small a sample to judge any team. The collapse suffered by Adelaide in their first game may be more a result of ring-rust than anything else. A knock of 33 by Matt Renshaw is somethign to be looked upon favourably. So was, the blazing knock of 62* by Daniel Worrall. But the rest of the line-up had an off day. In the bowling department, Rashid Khan will often be the pivot around which the attack would revolve. His lack of success in the first game proved very costly. But that wouldn't worry his team since this was just one game. What would give them hope is that Wes Agar and Peter Siddle went for economy rates under eight, with the former picking up two wickets also. It would be interesting to see whether either of the two gets the new ball in the upcoming match on the back of their efforts against Hobart. Hobart Hurricanes vs Adelaide Strikers: Match Details Venue: Aurora Stadium, Launceston Date and Time: December 15, 1:45 PM IST, 7:15 PM Local, 8:15 AM GMT Pitch Report Being a less-used stadium, there is bound to be some mystery about the nature of the pitch at this secondary venue in Tasmania. While the pitch at Hobart can assist swing bowlers, the one at the Aurora Stadium seems, going by the matches of BBL it hosted last season to be good for batting. But, with COVID having prevented much cricket, until the first match, it would be difficult to accurately predict the nature of the wicket. Weather and Toss Overcast conditions and a bit of rain is expected on the day of the match, especially in the evening. This could work in the favour of seam bowlers. Hobart usually assists swing bowling when the weather is overcast. Whether Launceston is the same, we will find out during the match. The clouds and precipitation could incline the captain winning the toss to bowl first. Probable XIs Hobart Hurricanes D'Arcy Short, Will Jacks, Coling Ingram, Peter Handscomb (C, Wk), Tim David, Macalister Wright, Tim David, James Faulkner, Nathan Ellis, Johan Botha, Scott Boland Adelaide Strikers Phil Salt, Jack Weatherald, Matt Renshaw, Harry Nielsen (Wk), Jonathan Wells, Ryan Gibson, Daniel Worrall, Rashid Khan, Peter Siddle (C), Wes Agar, Danny Briggs
BBL: Hurricanes clinch tight win despite Strikers' record 10th wicket partnership
Hobart Hurricanes continued their winning momentum completing a yet another professional defence against the Adelaide Strikers by 11 runs on Sunday, 13 December. While the last game saw them pick up wickets throughout the middle overs to choke the defending champions of momentum, Hobart picked early wickets today to kill the chase before it began. Defending 175, that look below par in an amazing batting track at the Bellerive Oval, Hobart bowled as a unit to remove the entire batting strength of Adelaide Strikers, picking up 6 wickets within 9 overs. James Faulkner was the pick among the bowlers notching up 3 wickets for just 21 runs in his four overs. Faulkner with his slightly adjusted seam position moved the ball early in the innings to dismiss Phil Salt through the gates and later returned to remove Matt Renshaw and Peter Siddle in the 12th and 14th over respectively. Back to usual for D’Arcy Short When the moment arrives, D’Arcy Short will retire as a bonafide legend of the Big Bash League. The fifth highest run-getter in tournament history returned to his usual after scoring a golden duck in the first game. Starting cautiously against Strikers, Short along with Will Jacks (34 off 25) compiled 63 runs in the first 9 overs. Once the aggressor departed, Short effortlessly switched roles to pile on the misery on the bowling team who had just managed to break a big partnership. Scoring his first 50 runs in 42 balls, Short unleashed his arsenal in the 14th over and destroyed Rashid Khan’s hard-earned reputation by scoring 25 runs off the Afghan’s over, the highest he has conceded so far in BBL. Short was dismissed by Wes Agar trying to cut a slower bouncer in the 15th over (final Power Surge over), but he was done with the Strikers by then, scoring 72 off 58 balls. Hobart strike back after losing momentum When Short was dismissed in the 15th, Hurricanes looked well on their way to pile on close to 200 runs in the first innings. Some good work at the end by Peter Siddle and Wes Agar halted hurricanes momentum and kept them at 174 runs for 5 wickets, similar to what they had defended last time against Sydney Sixers. Coming into defend, Hurricanes struck early and removed the first six of the seven batters for single digits. Barring Matt Renshaw’s 33 off 27 balls, none of the other batters survived more than eight balls. Riley Meredith proved his credentials two games in a row making it uncomfortable for the batsmen with fierce pace and accuracy. Apart from picking up two wickets, he demonstrated fantastic footwork to run Ryan Gibson out of his own bowling. Cricket’s romance with comeback continues…well, almost Down and out at 109-9 in the 15th over, number 8 Daniel Worrall and number 11 Danny Briggs scripted one of BBL’s best fightbacks. Requiring 69 off 30 balls with one wicket in hand, Worrall and Briggs went berserk. Not one of them were proper cricketing shots, but were they? Considering T20 cricket. Switch-hit hating Ian Chappel might have cringed on most balls in the last five overs with Briggs forcing out boundaries at will facilitated by his reverse and slog sweeps. The shots were effective and Strikers managed to creep into the game till the point where 26 remained from the last two overs. Both batsmen did exceedingly well to narrow down the margin and deliver a note of caution that nobody should relax even if they are just a wicket away from clinching the game. Strikers fell short by 11 runs at the end but Worrall’s 62 off 39 and Briggs 35 off 18 will have provided them with immense confidence in a losing encounter. The unbroken 61-run stand for the tenth wicket was highest in BBL's history and the second-highest in the history of the T20 format. Barring the death bowling, Hobart will be happy with what they did on the pitch and find themselves sitting on the second spot in the league table.
BBL 10 | Strikers vs Hurricanes: Match Preview, Predicted XI, Pitch and Weather Report
After starting their season with a win, Hobart Hurricanes next face Adelaide Strikers in the ongoing 10th season of the Big Bash League. Strikers don't have a star-studded line up and some of their key players, like Travis Head and Alex Carey, are away playing for Australia A. So, Hobart are the clear favourites at the moment. But with the vagaries of T20 cricket always ready to spring a surprise, one cannot be too sure about the result of the upcoming match. For Hobart, their overseas player Colin Ingram got a half-century in the match against Sydney Sixers. This is a good omen. BBL doesn't have too many high-profile players from other countries due to the ongoing bilateral series across the globe. Therefore, a foreign player coming good is a big boost. But there is one trump card for the Adelaide side - Rashid Khan. Unlike some other players in the team, the Afghan leggie would be available in the early part of the tournament but would miss the later stages. His superstar status in T20 cricket is based on great performances in leagues such as these, especially BBL. He could be the man who literally turns the game around for his team. Keys for Strikers Adelaide Strikers would be missing two key batsmen from their first-choice line-up. Captain Head and wicketkeeper-batsman Carey are away with the Australian Test and A side respectively. So, a lot of responsibility will lie on the shoulders of Jonathan Wells. He had a great season last year and, with experience on his side, would be expected to lead the batting line-up. There is also Matt Renshaw, a former Test opener looking to get back into the mix of the national team, but also among the more prominent players in the side. Other key batsmen could be Jack Weatherald and Matthew Short. The former has some credit in the back while the latter still needs to establish himself as a reliable player. They may get some help from Englishman Phil Salt. The Sussex player is an explosive batsman who can put the opposition on the defensive. He is likely to be the man to grab the advantage for his side, if they do well. While the batting line-up isn't the most impressive, the bowling attack would revolve around the wristy magician Rashid Khan. Enough has been said about his prowess. His experience of BBL is also more than sufficient. The experience of Peter Siddle could come in handy if he plays. Then there are some youngsters. Wes Agar, younger brother of Ashton is in the mix. So is Daniel Worrall. But it is the spin department that is stacked up, not entirely surprising for a team whose home is Adelaide. Apart from Rashid, there is Liam Briggs, another Englishman who bowls left-arm spin. Liam O'Connor is the back up leg-spinner, unlikely to play. Hurricanes Looking Good For the Hobart team, it will be a case of continuing the good work from the last match. Faulkner got good assistance from Riley Meredith. Both bowlers managed to stick to good lines and lengths in the final overs. Johan Botha didn't do much after his surprising comeback. Perhaps he needs some miles in his legs. Nathan Ellis, the star from last season, also had a weak showing. More would be expected of him. In the batting department, apart from Ingram, Tim David shone with a fifty. Handscomb got a good start, and though he couldn't continue, he remains a key batsman in the middle-order. One area which certainly needs to improve is the opening department. Both Will Jacks and D'Arcy Short were out for ducks. Short remains a danger though, a wicket which the oppositon would target. Adelaide Strikers vs Hobart Hurricanes: Match Details Venue: Bellerive Oval, Hobart Date and Time: December 13, 8:40 AM, 2:10 PM Local, 3:10 AM GMT Broadcasters: Sony Sports Network, Sony LIV Pitch Report The first match of the BBL was played at this ground and produced a modestly-high scoring game. Usually, the pitch at the Bellerive Oval can be helpful to seamers but that is not expected in a T20 match of a high-profile league. Spinners too, won't have much help but Rashid's brilliance isn't always reliant on the pitch. Weather and Toss A very warm day awaits the players during the match-up on Sunday. There may be a smattering of clouds but they would be innocuous. In such a situation, the ball isn't expected to swing. A high-scoring match is likely and the team winning the toss could decide either way, whether to chase or defend. Probable XI Adelaide Strikers: Jake Weatherald, Phil Salt, Matt Renshaw, Jonathan Wells, Matthew Short, Harry Nielsen (Wk), Danny Briggs, Rashid Khan, Peter Siddle (C), Wes Agar, Danial Worrall Hobart Hurricanes: Will Jacks, D'Arcy Short, Colin Ingram, Peter Handscomb (C, Wk), Tim David, Macalister Wright, James Faulkner, Nathan Ellis, Johan Botha, Soctt Boland