Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Stars Prediction: Stars middle order is in red hot form

Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Stars are going head to head in the 17th Match of Big Bash League at Blundstone Arena, Australia on 28 Dec 2023. Stars middle order is in red hot form but need overall team to click to get them a win. Who will win this game of cricket?

The Hobart Hurricanes had a rough start to the season, losing their first two matches. However, they turned things around in their recent game against the Melbourne Renegades, securing a victory. Now, they aim to maintain their winning momentum. In the previous match, Matthew Wade displayed excellent form at the top of the order, scoring 82 runs off just 50 deliveries. His opening partner, Caleb Jewell, will also be crucial in providing a strong start for the Hurricanes. Additionally, Macalister Wright, who made his season debut, scored 63 runs and showcased his skill. His partnership of 140 runs with Wade greatly contributed to the team's successful pursuit of a target of 184 runs. Despite these strong performances, the middle-order batsmen, including Sam Hain, Corey Anderson, and Tim David, have not been in their best form. The team will require at least one of them to step up and perform well. Moreover, the bowling has been somewhat lackluster. Nathan Ellis leads the team with 3 wickets in as many matches, but Chris Jordan, Riley Meredith, and Anderson have only managed to take a combined total of 5 wickets. The spin department is also limited, with Patrick Dooley being the only full-time spinner in the squad.

Matthew Wade (wk), Ben McDermott, Caleb Jewell, Macalister Wright, Sam Hain, Tim David, Corey Anderson, Chris Jordan, Patrick Dooley, Nathan Ellis (c), Riley Meredith

Similar to the Hurricanes, the Stars also had a challenging start to their campaign, suffering three consecutive losses. However, they managed to secure their first points on the table by defeating the Sydney Sixers on Boxing Day. The team has struggled with inconsistent performances from their opening pair, Thomas Rogers and Sam Harper. Harper has averaged 6.75 this season, while Rogers has performed slightly better with an average of 16.00. The contributions of Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis have also been inconsistent. Despite these challenges, there are some positive aspects for the team. Hilton Cartwright, the team's leading run-scorer, scored 47 runs in the last match. Beau Webster has proven to be a dependable all-rounder and will play a crucial role for the team. Webster and Usama Mir are the top wicket-takers for the team, both with four wickets each. Haris Rauf delivered an outstanding spell in the last match, taking three wickets for 38 runs. The availability of Imad Wasim for this game will provide a significant boost to the middle order and the bowling lineup.

Thomas Rogers, Sam Harper (wk), Beau Webster, Glenn Maxwell (c), Marcus Stoinis, Hilton Cartwright, Imad Wasim, Jonathan Merlo, Usama Mir, Joel Paris, Haris Rauf

It is expected that the team who wins the toss will probably choose to field first. The pitch at the Bellerive Oval is well balanced, providing assistance to the seamers at the beginning of the match with swing and seam movement. The batsmen should be cautious during the Powerplay and will need to adjust. The typical score for the first innings on this ground is approximately 165, but the team batting first will aim for a higher score of 180 to give a fair chance to the bowlers, as the pitch becomes easier for batting in the second half. The weather forecast suggests overcast conditions with minimal chances of rain and a temperature below 20 degrees Celsius. 

Both teams have not had the best performance this season, but they enter this contest after a recent win. We believe that the Melbourne Stars have a better chance of winning as they have a stronger lineup on paper. Additionally, their good record against Hobart in previous matches should provide them with a psychological advantage. Therefore, we recommend betting on the Melbourne Stars to win.