Wayne Clark’s BBL Preview: Scorchers vs Hurricanes

Posted on January 17, 2019 | Posted by Wayne Clark

Scorchers vs Hurricanes (Optus Stadium)
Friday 18th January, 6.30pm WST

We’re all looking forward to last years semi final replay and Scorchers fans will be hoping for a change in fortune. Consecutive wins will increase the confidence of the Scorchers, but they meet a red-hot Hurricanes who sit comfortably on top of the table.

The Hurricanes side has been stable all year and only used 12 players compared to 18 for the home team. This stability sees four of the top five Hurricane batsmen with 150+ runs (Short 355, Wade 231, Bailey 173 and McDermott 165). Compare this to just two for the Scorchers (Turner 300 & Bancroft 191) and you can understand the difference in ladder positions.

If the Scorchers are to win this game they must get early wickets. Coulter-Nile (8 wickets) and Andrew Tye (10 wickets) have been reliable, but without their international representatives again for this game, the pressure will be on to contain the Hurricanes.

Ashton Turner and Cam Bancroft have been terrific the last couple of games, however there is still a lack of confidence in the Scorchers batting depth to set a winning score. The Hurricanes attack is well balance and Joffra Archer (9 wickets), Riley Meredith (11 wickets) and James Faulkner (10 wickets) will be well suited by the quick Optus Stadium pitch.

The greatest plus the Scorchers have is their home ground advantage of a fast-bouncy pitch and fanatical supporters. Normally this would be enough reason to be confident of a Scorchers victory, but it is easy to make a strong case for the Hurricanes:

• Stable, confident batting line-up – all in form.
• Balanced bowling attack with key strike bowlers suited to the fast pitch.
• Scorchers inconsistent batting and perceived reliance on Bancroft & Turner.
• Poor form of David Willey and absence of international players.

Taking this into account, I’m swayed towards the Hurricanes to repeat last year’s semi final result and win the game!

Tips

Winner: Hurricanes ($1.75)

Scorchers Most Runs: Michael Klinger ($4.20)
Hurricanes Most Runs: Ben McDermott ($6)

Scorchers Most Wickets: Andrew Tye ($3.20)
Hurricanes Most Wickets: James Faulkner ($4.50)

Odds correct as at 1pm, 17th January 2019.

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