BBL 2018-19, Match 23, Melbourne Renegades vs Hobart Hurricanes, Match Prediction: Who will win the Match?

Aaron Finch's return has bolstered the home side.

Published - 06 Jan 2019, 13:19 IST | Updated - 06 Jan 2019, 13:19 IST

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Melbourne Renegades will have a tough job on their hands facing the Hobart Hurricanes in the Match 23 of the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL). The story of the two teams is completely different so far. While the Renegades have lost three on the bounce after winning the first couple of matches, their opponents are on a spree and are unbeaten so far after five matches this season.

The Hurricanes have been exceptional, to say the least, this year and have chased the totals successfully in their last four matches. D’Arcy Short has been in really good form with the bat for them and the others in the line-up have also chipped in big time for the team. They have the players for every condition and it will take a herculean effort for any side to get past them.

The struggling Renegades have got a massive boost with Aaron Finch‘s return for this game. He will take over the captaincy from Tom Cooper as well and should look to make an impact straight away. Finch had an extremely tough time in whites in the ongoing Test series against India and the cricketer will be looking to get his confidence back ahead of the ODIs against the same team.

Pitch and Conditions

The Renegades started their season with a victory at the Docklands Stadium in Melbourne and will be happy to have come back to the conditions which they relish the most. The highest score at the venue in the three matches so far is 151 and another low-scoring encounter is in the offing. The temperature will hover around 20 Degrees Celsius during the whole game and it will be a pleasant evening for everyone.

Team Combinations

Melbourne Renegades

Finch will open the innings along with Sam Harper and Mackenzie Harvey is the likeliest candidate to make way for the skipper. Cameron White will come down the order at three while Tom Cooper and Mohammed Nabi will lend the experience in the middle-order. Beau Webster and Daniel Christian should show some consistency with the willow now as the bowlers have been doing a decent job.

The slow pitch at the Docklands Stadium will bring Cameron Boyce in the game and Usman Khan has also won the Man of the Match in their first game of the season.

Probable XI: Aaron Finch (c), Sam Harper (wk), Cameron White, Tom Cooper, Mohammad Nabi, Daniel Christian, Beau Webster, Jack Wildermuth, Cameron Boyce, Kane Richardson, Usman Khan Shinwari.

Hobart Hurricanes

The Hurricanes might opt to rest a couple of their players for this game keeping the long season in mind. D’Arcy Short and Matthew Wade are doing an exceptional job at the top and George Bailey has been giving the perfect finishing touches at the end of the innings. Though the inconsistency of Ben McDermott and Alex Doolan might see one of them making way for the young Jake Doran who will make his T20 debut.

Also, in the bowling department, Riley Meredith might be rested and David Moody is likely to come in for him who will also be making his debut. The rest of the bowlers Jofra Archer, Clive Rose and James Faulkner will continue to make merry of the opposition.

Probable XI: D’Arcy Short, Matthew Wade (c & wk), Ben McDermott, Alex Doolan/Jake Doran, George Bailey, Simon Milenko, James Faulkner, Johan Botha, Jofra Archer, Clive Rose, Riley Meredith/David Moody.