Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Sixers: Preview & Predictions (BBL14)

The Big Bash 2024/25 begins its post-season with a mouthwatering qualifier match between the two top teams in the league. The Hobart Hurricanes will lock horns with Sydney Sixers at Ninja Stadium, with the winner earning a spot in the championship match.

Odds from Australian betting sites suggest that the home side will head into the clash as marginal favourites. Nathan Ellis and company have been incredible in front of their home crowd, but is it possible for the Sixers to end their home turf dominance?

Stay with us for our full preview of the Hurricanes vs Sixers.

Hobart Hurricanes

The Hobart Hurricanes started their campaign with a terrible defeat against the Melbourne Renegades, but in contrast to the old adage, morning did not show the day for the two-time runners-ups. They bounced back with remarkable spirit and now they are about to start their finals campaign as the top team.

Hurricanes’ coach Jeff Vaughan managed to inspire his team to go on a seven-match winning spree after their opening match setback. However, they could not end the regular season with a win as a Glenn Maxwell-charged Melbourne Stars performance handed the Hurricanes a rare defeat.

That said, there’s little reason for the Hurricanes to feel extra pressure ahead of the qualifier. They have won all five home matches, including one against their upcoming opponents Sixers on New Year’s Day. But, the team will expect better from their bowlers after giving away a whopping 219 runs against the Stars.

Sydney Sixers

The Sydney Sixers are in pursuit of back-to-back final appearances. After narrowly missing out on the title last season, the Sixers showed grit and determination to put up a title challenge once again this season. The Sydney outfit topped the table for weeks, but conceded the throne to Hobart in the later stage of the competition.

While losing out on the top spot will be frustrating, Moises Henriques’ men will look to make amends by booking a spot directly in the grand final, and avoid the challengers match. Consecutive defeats to the Stars and Hurricanes cast a shadow of doubt over the Sixers’ Qualifier credentials, but they managed to steady the ship afterwards.

The Sixers returned to winning ways with a win against the Scorchers. In a high-scoring affair, they managed to outscore Perth by 14 runs. They then defeated the Strikers by three wickets, and an abandoned match against the Stars was enough to secure second place.

Historically, the Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Sixers has been one of the most competitive fixtures in Big Bash history. The Hurricanes have won 10 games against their Sydney rivals, but the Sixers can match that tally with a win on Tuesday.

The scar of a loss at the Ninja Stadium, however, is still fresh in the minds of Sixers’ players. They could only score 111 runs in response to the Hurricanes’ total of 161 runs last time they played here.

Mitchell Owen produced another explosive display with the bat for the Hurricanes on Sunday. His knock of 38 off 17 balls was not enough to continue the Hurricanes’ winning run. But, the 23-year-old now has amassed 270 runs to claim the third spot in the BBL 14 top-scorers list.

Sean Abbott had a night to forget at Adelaide Oval as he was hit for 59 runs in four overs. But, the pacer could pose the main threat to the Hurricanes batting lineup. He has claimed seven wickets in the previous two outings and should shake off his shaky last performance in Hobart.

Betting sites are showing faith in a Hurricanes win, but the Sixers don’t lag far behind. The head-to-head record also suggests that this could be a tight clash. That said, the Hurricanes get the benefit of the doubt here because of their impeccable home form. Back them to sneak their way directly into the grand final.

The Big Bash League is into the business end of the season with a high-voltage affair at Ninja Stadium on Tuesday. The Hobart Hurricanes will look to record successive wins against the Sixers, but taming the three-time champions will not be a walk in the park. Sydney has shown vulnerabilities in recent weeks, but they have also shown signs of a resurgence. Overall, this is shaping up to be a blockbuster match.