Big Bash League 2020-21 (BBL 10), Match 31: Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Thunder – Match Preview And Prediction

In the 31st match of the Big Bash League 2020/21 (BBL 10), Hobart Hurricanes will play against Sydney Thunder at Perth Stadium (Perth) on Thursday (7th January) afternoon.

It will be their first meeting this season. While Sydney Thunder are presently in the second position in the BBL 2020/21 points table with 19 points in seven games, Hobart Hurricanes are currently in the third spot in the same points table with 18 points in eight matches.

Big Bash League 2020-21 (BBL 10), Match 31: Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Thunder – Match Preview

Hobart Hurricanes

While Hobart Hurricanes have played eight matches this season, they have won five games and lost the other three matches. After two successive victories, Hurricanes suffered a 10-run defeat in their last game against Melbourne Strikers. Only Charlie Wakim has been removed from the previous squad.

Ben McDermott is the leading run-scorer in the ongoing BBL 10 as he has scored 277 runs in 6 innings with an average of 55.40 and strike-rate of 136.45. He has already scored two fifties in this tournament. Meanwhile, Colin Ingram has scored 228 runs in 8 innings (average 28.50; striker-rate 133.33), including one half-century.

The other in-form batsmen of Hobart Hurricanes are Tim David and Dawid Malan. While David has scored 191 runs in 8 innings, English cricketer Malan has scored 155 runs in 4 innings. Both these cricketers have also scored one half-century each this season.

The only half-centurion of this team, D’Arcy Short has scored 122 runs in 8 innings. However, currently, he is struggling with the bat.

Among their bowlers, Riley Meredith and Nathan Ellis have taken 12 wickets each in this BBL 10. On the other hand, Scott Boland has managed to pick up 9 wickets.

Latest full available squad

Scott Boland, Johan Botha, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Peter Handscomb, Colin Ingram, Sandeep Lamichhane, Dawid Malan, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, David Moody, Mitchell Owen, Wil Parker, D’Arcy Short, Nick Winter, Macalister Wright

Forms in the last 5 matches (Oldest to latest): Won, Lost, Won, Won and Lost

Sydney Thunder

After starting this tournament with a defeat, Sydney Thunder managed five successive victories. However, in their last game, Brisbane Heat ended that winning streak by beating Thunder by five wickets.

All-rounder Daniel Sams is out of this latest squad. While he suffered a blow on his helmet in the last game, the medical team has decided to take some time before reappearing for the side. After playing seven matches this BBL season, while Sams has scored 133 runs in five innings (average 33.25; strike-rate 218.03), he has also taken 8 wickets in six innings. So, Sydney Thunder will surely miss him in the upcoming match.

However, they have still enough strong players as captain Callum Ferguson and Alex Hales both have scored 243 runs in seven innings each. While Ferguson has registered three half-centuries this season, Hales has managed it once. Also, Usman Khawaja has recently shown his improvement with the bat as he has scored 164 runs in seven innings.

The 19-year-old leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha has highly impressed this season as he is the joint-second most wicket-taker in the ongoing BBL 10 with 13 wickets. Off-spinner Chris Green has also collected 10 wickets this season. Like Daniel Sams, Nathan McAndrew has also bagged 8 wickets in six innings.

Latest full available squad

Callum Ferguson (C), Sam Billings, Jonathan Cook, Ben Cutting, Ollie Davies, Brendan Doggett, Matt Gilkes, Chris Green, Alex Hales, Baxter Holt, Usman Khawaja, Nathan McAndrew, Adam Milne, Arjun Nair, Alex Ross, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, Chris Tremain

Forms in the last 5 matches (Oldest to latest): Won, Won, Won, Won and Lost

Big Bash League 2020-21 (BBL 10), Match 31: Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Thunder – Match Prediction

If we see the head-to-head records between Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Thunder, former are leading by the 8-5 margin. While both teams are currently in good form, Thunder are in better form, despite both teams defeats in their last respective matches.

Both teams have big strength, but Sydney Thunder will miss Daniel Sams. However, this match is still expected to be a tough competition.