Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Renegades: Preview & Predictions (BBL14)

For match 34 of BBL 14, the Hobart Hurricanes are set to greet the Melbourne Renegades at Ninja Stadium. While the Renegades fight for a playoff berth, the Hurricanes are targeting a top-two spot. The home team sits second in the standings, while their Tuesday-night guests are at the bottom.

Australian betting sites are labelling the hosts as the favourites in this match. The Hurricanes have won five games on the bounce to equal league leaders the Sydney Sixers in points. Over their last five outings, the Renegades have only won once. Having said that, in the reverse fixture they beat the Hurricanes.

Who will claim the bragging rights? Read on for our full preview of the Hurricanes vs Renegades.

Hobart Hurricanes

The Hurricanes briefly topped the table after a commanding home victory over the Thunder, but the Sixers regained pole position on Saturday. Still, Hobart have already guaranteed their place in the BBL 14 finals with their outstanding five-match winning run. They also have the Sixers to thank for their win over the Scorchers to make this happen.

Tim David produced another explosive performance, his second in as many games, to lead the Hobart Hurricanes to a dominant triumph over the Thunder. David's undefeated 68 from just 38 balls sealed the deal with 19 deliveries to spare as the Hurricanes chased down 164 for 6 at Ninja Stadium on Friday.

The Hurricanes' success this season has been much influenced by David's explosive run of form. That said, the Hurricanes have shown excellent team effort with both the ball and the bat.

Melbourne Renegades

Starting with two victories in their first three games—including successes over the Hurricanes and Scorchers on difficult pitches at Geelong and Marvel Stadium—this season has been one of highs and lows for the Renegades. Their success was subsequently derailed by a three-match losing run, even though they momentarily corrected the ship with a win.

Will Sutherland’s men suffered a derby loss in their latest outing with a marvellous Glenn Maxwell knock drawing the line between the two sides. In response to the Stars’ 165, the Renegades could only amass 123 runs under the capped roof of the Marvel Stadium. Joel Paris and Mark Steketee, the opening bowling partnership for the Stars, combined for eight wickets.

Renegades’ boss Cameron White will hope that his team finds motivation in their amazing triumph against the Hurricanes earlier in the season. The lowest team total this season, the Hurricanes got all out for just 78 runs in that game.

The Hurricanes vs Renegades has been one of the most competitive fixtures in Big Bash history. The Hurricanes have a slight advantage with 11 wins, but the Renegades are not far behind with nine wins.

The Renegades don’t have an encouraging record at the Ninja Stadium, aka Bellerive Oval. They have lost in each of their last five visits to the ground. You must go as far back as on December 21, 2017 to find their last victory at the venue.

Though each of the top six have contributed, rookie talent Mitch Owen has been especially outstanding in the Hurricanes’ batting lineup. Owen scored 202 runs in six innings, including an undefeated 101 against the Scorchers.

The Renegades will expect fireworks from Tim Seifert. As the leading run scorer for the squad with 176 runs in eight innings, Seifert has proved his ability to anchor an innings or provide a match-winning knock when called for.

Betting apps backing the Hurricanes to win this one. Considering recent form, it seems to be a sensible assumption. Nathan Ellis and company are firing on all cylinders right now.

They did fall to a humiliating defeat when these two teams had last met, but the Hurricanes managed to turn around their season remarkably since then. Anything but a Hurricanes’ win in this match will be an upset. So, we are expecting the hosts to add one more win to their tally.

The Hurricanes and Renegades will enter the field with different motivations. For the home team, it’s a golden opportunity to snatch the top spot away from the Sixers and get a favourable finals fixture. The Renegades, on the contrary, will look to produce a stunning victory to keep their dimming finals hopes alive. Overall, this should be a feast for cricket lovers.