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Sydney Sixers end their 2022-23 Big Bash League group stage fixtures with a trip to Tasmania to take on Hobart Hurricanes. The hosts must win the game to stay in contention for a play-off spot but it is the second placed Sixers who have odds of 8/13 (1.62) and are favourites to win the game.
These odds from Ladbrokes were correct at the time of writing.
- Match 53, BBL 2022-23
- Monday January 23rd, from 08:15 AM GMT
- Bellerive Oval, Hobart
Pitch Report and Weather Conditions
Contents
With the pitch always offering something to the quick bowlers, combined with the overhead conditions, we expect batting to be harder than usual in this game. Any score over 160 should be enough to win the fixture.
There are thunderstorms forecast in the Hobart area on Monday evening and it would be a surprise if this game manages to avoid any rain-interruptions. It will be warm, cloudy and humid throughout this match.
Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Sixers – Match Predictions
Hobart Hurricanes have failed to really get going in BBL12 and have only once strung together two wins in a row. Furthermore, this game will be their third in a row against one of the top three teams in the table and it has been tough for them to get anything out of those matches. Sydney Sixers can do no wrong and trounced their city rivals by 125 runs on Saturday. It would be one of the biggest shocks of the tournament if the Sixers did not return from Hobart with another win.
Prediction 1
Sixer To Hit Most Sixes
1/1 (2.00)
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Odds from
Prediction 2
Abbott To Take Most Wickets
5/2 (3.50)
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Odds from
Prediction 3
Smith to be Man of the Match
6/1 (7.00)
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Odds from
Probable 6s
Steve Smith has had no problem adapting his game from the slower paced Test arena to this non-stop aggressive and attacking format. He hit nine sixes in the Sydney derby to follow up his seven sixes against Adelaide Strikers on Tuesday. Even with Tim David and Matthew Wade in their batting line-up, we do not think that Hobart Hurricanes will be able to keep pace with the six hitting from Sydney Sixers in this match.
Our prediction: Sydney Sixers to Hit Most Sixes 1/1 (2.00)
Probable Wickets
There are all-time batting legends of the BBL – the likes of Chris ‘Lynnsanity’ Lynn and Glenn ‘The Big Show’ Maxwell – but it will not be long before Sean Abbott is talked about with the same enthusiasm for his bowling exploits. No player has taken more wickets than him in BBL history and he is now the leading wicket taker in BBL12 (23 wickets at a strike rate of 11.1). He has 13 wickets from the last five matches alone!
Our prediction: Sean Abbott to Be the Highest Wicket Taker for Sydney Sixers 5/2 (3.50)
Man of the Match
At 33 years of age, Steve Smith shows no signs of slowing down, or of his batting ability starting to wane. In 2023 alone, he has made scores of 104, 36, 101 and 125*, and English cricket fans are already starting to worry about just how many runs he will score in this summer’s Men’s Ashes! With a strike-rate of 175.83 and an average of 131.00 from his three BBL innings in this campaign, Smith is at the top of his game as the important play-off games come onto the horizon.
Our prediction: Steve Smith to Be the Man of the Match 6/1 (7.00)
Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Sixers Preview
Both teams have injury worries over a spin bowler. For the Hurricanes, Patrick Dooley, who has impressed in his first season with the club, has a groin injury and is unlikely to be fit enough to take the field. Sydney Sixers have been without Nathan Lyon over the last two games with a knee injury and he is also expected to miss out.
However, with the pitch and conditions likely to favour the seam and swing bowlers, maybe their absences won’t be too greatly felt.
Hobart Hurricanes
Matthew Wade and Tim David have been the standout batters for Hobart Hurricanes throughout BBL12 with David the sixth highest run scorer in the competition. Top order runs have been a problem over recent games and with a victory required, do not be surprised if Zak Crawley is pushed up to open the innings.
Riley Meredith has had a strong campaign and should enjoy the conditions at the Bellerive Oval in this match. He is thrown the ball by his skipper and told to focus on getting wickets without worrying a jot about runs conceded!
Playing XI: Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott, Zak Crawley, Matthew Wade (c) (wk), Tim David, D’Arcy Short, Mitchell Owen, Faheem Ashraf, Joel Paris, Nathan Ellis, Riley Meredith
Sydney Sixers
With only seven wickets falling over their last two innings, Sydney Sixers have not required their lower middle-order to come to the crease or even pad up at times. Steve Smith’s form has covered up a worrying lack of runs from Josh Philippe who has been off-colour for nearly all of this campaign.
It is very hard for any other bowler to get the limelight from Sean Abbott in the BBL but Steve O’Keefe did a good job with figures of 4-10 in the Sydney derby. However, it will be tough for him to repeat such a performance at this quick bowler friendly venue.
Playing XI: Josh Philippe (wk), Steve Smith, Kurtis Patterson, Moises Henriques (c), Jordan Silk, Dan Christian, Hayden Kerr, Ben Dwarshuis, Sean Abbott, Todd Murphy, Steve O’Keefe
How to Watch Big Bash in the UK: Live Streaming & Channel List
With their excellent commentary team, Sky Sports Cricket will show every ball of this match on TV. If you prefer to watch this competition whilst you are out and about, make sure to use the Sky Go app and you will not miss any of the action.
- Sky Sports Cricket (TV)
- SkyGo app (Streaming)
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