The Renegades showed their championship pedigree for the first time this season after an incredible victory against the Heat, which drew many comparisons to their incredible victory in the BBL08 final. David Miller nearly dragged the Hurricanes across the line on Sunday against the Strikers, but the Hurricanes came up short and are now winless in their last five games. Thanks to the Heat’s loss to the Renegades the Hurricanes still have slight chance of making the finals, but a loss to the Renegades would end those hopes. After going winless in their first nine games, the Renegades have begun to restore some pride with consecutive wins in their last two games. If the Renegades bowlers can put together the type of performance they produced from after the sixth over where they took 6-34, they shouldn’t have any issues against a struggling Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes go into the clash with an unchanged squad that lost to the Strikers in Launceston on Sunday afternoon. The Renegades have made one change to the squad that defeated the Heat, Young all-rounder Nathan McSweeney coming into the squad, replacing paceman Joe Mennie. The Renegades hold a 6-4 head to head advantage, however the Hurricanes have won the past two encounters against the Renegades, including a seven wicket victory at Blundstone Arena on Christmas eve. The bowling attacks from both sides have been undermanned and struggled badly this season, the side who can win that battle will go a long way to winning this match.
Melbourne Renegades Squad (13): Dan Christian (C), Cameron Boyce, Tom Cooper, Andrew Fekete Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Shaun Marsh, Nathan McSweeney, Mohammad Nabi, Samit Patel, Will Sutherland, Beau Webster, Jack Wildermuth
Hobart Hurricanes Squad (13): Matthew Wade (C), Qais Ahmad, George Bailey, Scott Boland, Jake Doran, Nathan Ellis, Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott, David Miller, Jake Reed, Tom Rogers, Clive Rose, Mac Wright
Renegades vs Hurricanes Betting Tips
Renegades
The Renegades will be looking for three wins on the trot as get back to Marvel Stadium after a three game road trip. The Renegades have finally found a way to start putting some strong performances with longer periods with the ball, it hasn’t been convincing for all 20 overs with the ball, but they’ve been better for much longer than earlier in the season. Again there are still concerns with the middle and lower order as there has been all season, the Renegades have had no issues getting starts with three batsmen in the top 14 for most runs in the BBL with Shaun Marsh (2nd), Beau Webster (5th) and Sam Harper (14th). However they have struggled to get meaningful contributions from the middle to lower order. On a Marvel Stadium surface that the Renegades haven’t been able to put up a match winning score, they will need contributions from the likes of Tom Cooper, Will Sutherland, Mohammad Nabi and Dan Christian.
Shaun Marsh has had an excellent debut season for the Renegades scoring 393 runs (2nd most in the BBL) at an average of 35.72, with a strike rate of 118.37. Marsh has had plenty of success against the Hurricanes, in his last five matches against the Hurricanes Marsh has 227 runs at an average of 56.75 with scores of 37, 30, 57, 63* and 40. Marsh is in good form at Marvel Stadium this season with scores of 40 and 63 in his last two matches there. The surface at Marvel has been excellent for batting this season and the short square boundaries at Marvel Stadium suit Marsh to a tee. The undermanned Hurricanes that are missing James Faulkner and Riley Meredith, Shaun Marsh is a great choice to be the Renegades top run scorer.
Marsh Top MEL Batsman
$2.75
Hurricanes
The Hurricanes are now winless in their last matches as a season that begun with high expectations and plenty of promise, has petered out as injuries and international duties have derailed the Hurricanes finals hopes. Thanks to the Heat’s loss to the Renegades the Hurricanes still have slight chance of making the finals, but a loss to the Renegades would end those hopes. David Miller finally got going with a brutal 90* off just 48 deliveries in Sunday’s loss to the Strikers however the Hurricanes bowling attack yet again failed to keep an opposition in check as Travis Head led the Strikers to 5/186. Scott Boland was impeccable with 2/26 from his four overs however his teammates couldn’t contain the Strikers as Clive Rose (economy rate of 11.25), Tom Rogers (10.00), Qais Ahmed (9.00) and Nathan Ellis (8.25) all went the journey. If the Hurricanes are to be any chance of ending this winless streak, they will need a lift from their bowlers.
Although he has been starved of opportunities since the Hurricanes recent shake up to their batting line up, Ben McDermott has been the Hurricanes most consistent batsmen in BBL09. McDermott has scored 198 runs at an average of 24.75 with a strike rate of 117.85. McDermott has scored the most runs in matches between the Renegades and the Hurricanes where he has scored 288 runs at an average of 96, with a strike rate of 146.19. In McDermott’s last three innings against the Renegades he has scored 51*, 50 and 39*. The Renegades have not found a way to stopped McDermott over his career as he has taken apart the Renegades time and time again. At $6, McDermott provides excellent value to be the Hurricanes leading run scorer.
McDermott Top HOB Batsman
$6.00
Prediction
This game will be an interesting spectacle between the league’s bottom two sides who are currently experiencing very different fortunes. The Renegades come into the match with back to back wins and riding the momentum of an amazing comeback victory, whilst the Hurricanes are winless in their last five games as injury and international duties have taken their toll on the team. With the Renegades top order have been providing the middle order with a great platform on most occasions and it’s only a matter of time before they put a massive total up. The Hurricanes have been brave without Meredith, Faulkner and Short however they are simply too big of losses to cover up with depth players. Back at Marvel Stadium where they have a great record against the Hurricanes, the Renegades will be too good for a Hurricanes outfit that has had plenty of misery pilled on it this season.
Melbourne Renegades H2H
$1.78
