Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Stars (Friday December 24, 3:30pm)
The Hobart Hurricanes will look to get their season back on track after a couple of tough losses when they take on the inconsistent Melbourne Stars on Christmas Eve.
This is an unbelievably important fixture for both sides as the season approaches the midway point. While they had a mammoth win over the Sydney Sixers in their second game on the back of Matthew Wade, they have otherwise been outplayed by the Sixers and Scorchers – twice – to slump to a one and three record.
It’s that sort of record which will all but ruin their hopes if they can’t turn it around in a hurry, and while their stats are underwhelming apart from Wade’s performances, not a great deal more can be said for the inconsistent Stars outfit.
The Stars have split their games down the middle, and while the wins haven’t been dominant, only the performance against the Sydney Sixers in their first outing was genuinely poor. Glenn Maxwell has led the way with the bat, scoring 163 runs, while the addition of Qais Ahmed and Andre Russell – who both missed the first game of the season – has been a major boost for the club.
Those trio give the Melbourne-based side a serious edge, and it’s hard to see them not picking up the win here.
Our best bet: Melbourne Stars win $1.72 at PlayUp
Sydney Thunder vs Sydney Sixers (Sunday December 26, 6:05pm)
A Boxing Day Sydney Smash will follow the first day of the third Test, and with both teams tracking along near enough to the top of the table, it promises to be one of the best matches of the season to date.
The men in pink have dropped only one of their first five games, burying some of the competition’s top teams by big margins, including a flogging of the Melbourne Stars on the opening day of the season.
It has seen Josh Philippe and Moises Henriques lead the way with the bat, the duo sitting one and two when it comes to total runs so far for the season.
The Sydney Thunder, on the back of three bash boost points, sit in third spot on the table as it currently stands, just a place behind the Sixers despite their two and two record. Unfortunately, both of those victories have come against the same team in the struggling Brisbane Heat, with their bowling yet to limit a team to under 140.
That will likely prove to be the difference here, with the powerful Sixers batting line up picking up another win to continue their surge to the top of the table.
Our best bet: Sydney Sixers win $1.72 at PlayUp
Hobart Hurricanes vs Adelaide Strikers (Monday December 27 (6:05pm)
If the Hurricanes can’t first beat the Melbourne Stars on Christmas Eve, then this clash against the Strikers will become as good as must win, and yet, it may not suit them all that well.
While the Hurricanes have been kept in games by their bowling attack, it’s quality batting they’ll need to produce if they want to knock over the Strikers, given the opposition bowling attack is led by Rashid Khan.
Khan is the key to the Strikers, having taken six wickets in four games with an economy of just 6.6.
If he can produce that kind of performance again, then Strikers are a chance of improving their one and three record, this game also approaching something of a must-win status in the desperation stakes for the men in blue.
They may have Rashid Khan, but the Hurricanes outfit seems more well-rounded and should take the win.
