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Alright then. We finally have our top five teams in the Big Bash League and the knockouts are all set to light the tournament on fire. The Aussie stars are back to their respective sides and that is only going to make things interesting. With Alex Carey and Travis Head returning to the fold, Adelaide Strikers will be fancying their chances.
In the first eliminator of the tournament, Adelaide Strikers are set to take on Hobart Hurricanes in what promises to be a cracking contest. The match between the two sides is to be played on 21st January 2021 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne.
ADELAIDE STRIKERS VS HOBART HURRICANES TEAM PREVIEWS
ADELAIDE STRIKERS
Adelaide Strikers got off to a rather poor start to the tournament and were languishing near the bottom half of the table before they qualified for the playoffs with a late surge. Adelaide Strikers defeated a few of the best sides of the competition in the back-end of the tournament and they will be looking to carry on with their momentum.
In their last match, in particular, Adelaide Strikers did a terrific job to get past Sydney Sixers in what was a must-win game. Bowling first on a good batting surface, Adelaide Strikers ended up restricting Sydney Sixers for a total of 161. The bowlers did a remarkable job, picking up wickets at regular intervals, which proved to be the deciding factor in the match. The top-order batters stepped up their game when it mattered the most and overhauled the total in the 18th over.
Although it no longer matters, the Strikers finished with 28 points to their name coupled with a pretty good net run rate of 0.237. Adelaide Strikers have been so good recently that they are coming into this match on the back of a four-match streak. Not only do they have momentum, but they also seem to be peaking just at the right moment.
With Peter Siddle and Rashid Khan contributing consistently, Adelaide Strikers always had a decent bowling attack but were struggling with the bat for the most part of the tournament. Their batting has looked in terrific form in the last four overs and in addition to that, they will be getting Alex Carey and Travis Head back to bolster their side.
On paper, the Strikers have a terrific unit with their most experienced players back. Also, they will be brimming with confidence given the results they have posted. If they are able to play to their potential in this upcoming match, getting past them is going to be incredibly difficult.
HOBART HURRICANES
Hobart Hurricanes had a topsy-turvy campaign, oscillating between the middle and bottom part of the tournament before finally making a mark at the back end of the competition. Even though they lost their last match, they had done a pretty good job in their earlier matches, which allowed them an unfavorable result in their last match.
They finished at the fifth spot with 27 points to their name edging past Melbourne Stars by just one point. They had a pretty poor net run rate of -0.332, which was primarily a result of their defeat in the last match, but it isn’t really going to matter anymore.
Hobart Hurricanes did a fantastic job in their last few matches, riding high on the performances from their top-order. The likes of Ben McDermott, Matthew Wade, D’Arcy Short, and Caleb Jewell have been brilliant of late. Overall, Hobart Hurricanes have a pretty well-balanced side but would need to get over their loss against the Stars. Their bowling was completely exposed in that match and getting past them is going to be very difficult. Having said that, if they are able to play to their potential in this upcoming match, they could prove to be a very difficult side to deal with.
ADELAIDE STRIKERS VS HOBART HURRICANES MATCH DETAILS:
Match: Adelaide Strikers vs Hobart Hurricanes, Eliminator, Big Bash League 2021-22
Date and Time: January 21st 2021, Friday, 05:30 AM IST
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
ADELAIDE STRIKERS VS HOBART HURRICANES PITCH REPORT
The pitch at Melbourne Cricket Ground is a belter. Batters will enjoy batting on the surface as the ball comes on nicely. Bowling, on the other hand, will be a tricky task here.
ADELAIDE STRIKERS VS HOBART HURRICANES WEATHER FORECAST
Clear skies will greet both sides on Friday. Temperatures in Melbourne are expected to range between 18 and 31 degrees Celsius.
ADELAIDE STRIKERS VS HOBART HURRICANES PROBABLE XIS
ADELAIDE STRIKERS
Fawad Ahmed spun a web around the Sixers as he picked up three wickets to help his side restrict the Sydney-based team to 161. Contributions from Matt Renshaw (50) and Ian Cockbain (71*) helped them chase down the total in 17.3 overs.
HOBART HURRICANES
All of Hobart’s bowlers were thrashed as the Stars posted a mammoth 273 on the board, thanks to a sensational ton from Glenn Maxwell. Ben McDermott scored 55 and D’Arcy Short remained unbeaten on 41 but couldn’t chase down the massive total.
ADELAIDE STRIKERS VS HOBART HURRICANES MATCH PREDICTION
The Strikers defeated the Sixers comprehensively in their last game whereas the Hurricanes suffered a heavy loss against the Stars. It will all come down to handling nerves in the eliminator as it’s a do-or-die encounter.
The Hobart Hurricanes have a good balance to their side and expect them to come out on top on Friday.
Prediction: HOBART HURRICANES TO WIN THIS ENCOUNTER.
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