Melbourne Stars Women vs Hobart Hurricanes Women, WOMENS BIG BASH LEAGUE 2020, Today Match Prediction 18 Nov 2020

mlsw vs hbhw Match Prediction & Analysis

Melbourne Stars Women have become the first side to quality for the semifinals of the Women’s Big Bash League 2020. The side won a close game against the Perth Scorchers Women and has held on to its dominating performances this season. Hobart Hurricanes on the other hand comes here after a massive loss against the Adelaide Strikers Women and they have nearly lost all their hopes of making it to the next round. 

It has been a great season so far for the Melbourne Stars camp and they have lost just one game that too in the Super Over. They have dominated the opponents with good performance both with the bat as well as the ball. Hobart Hurricanes Women have struggled with its bowling and going into this contest they will need to come up with something special to emerge as winners. 

TEAMS PREVIEW

Melbourne Stars Women Preview

The good run for Meg Lanning’s side is continuing this season and the side has booked a place for itself in the semifinal with a win over Perth Scorchers Women. The side held on to its nerves in the final stages of the game to win it from jaws of defeat. They had defeated Hobart Hurricanes earlier in the season and Lanning would look to repeat that success. 

Elyse Villani and Lanning have done well opening the batting for the side and the team would look for a positive start from them here. Mignon du Preez looks rock solid at No. 3 and she will be looking to do well. It is however in the middle order that the side struggled in the last game. Natalie Sciver, Anna Lanning and Alana King would need to contribute with the bat against the decent attack that Hurricanes have. 

Rosemary Mair and Holly Ferling would be expected to strike with the new ball. Mair’s experience is a big bonus for the side. Natalie Sciver’s expected return to the team would be great for the side. Sophie Day and King won the game for the side with tight bowling in the last game and they would be expected to come up with a similar show in this game. 

Melbourne Stars Women Predicted Playing XI:

Meg Lanning (c), Elyse Villani, Mignon du Preez, Natalie Sciver, Anna Lanning, Alana King, Nicole Faltum (wk), Tess Flintoff, Sophie Day, Holly Ferling, Rosemary Mair

Melbourne Stars Women Actual Playing XI:

Meg Lanning, Nicole Faltum, Sophie Day, Lucy Cripps, Alana King, Elyse Villani, Holly Ferling, Natalie Sciver, Annabel Sutherland, Mignon du Preez, Katherine Brunt

Hobart Hurricanes Women Preview

Corinne Hall’s side suffered a confidence shattering defeat in the last game against the Adelaide Strikers Women. They were bundled out for 77 runs losing the game by 64 runs. This loss has nearly sealed their fate and they have little hope of making it to the next round. The side would need an exceptional effort to defeat in-form Melbourne Stars. 

Rachel Priest and Hayley Matthews will need to come up with a good start. In the last few games the top order has failed the side. Naomi Stalenberg and Nicola Carey too didn’t score in the last game and have to fire in this game. Sasha Moloney, Chloe Tryon and Hall will have to make contributions down the order against the good bowling attack that the Stars have. 

Belinda Vakarewa and Hayley Matthews bowled well in the last game with the new ball and the side would look at them to provide a similar start. Brooke Hepburn and Carey will need to check their line in the middle overs. Amy Smith bowled a tight spell and the side would look at her to restrict the flow of runs in this game.

Hobart Hurricanes Women Predicted Playing XI:

Corinne Hall (c), Naomi Stalenberg, Rachel Priest (wk), Hayley Matthews, Nicola Carey, Chloe Tryon, Sasha Moloney, Emma Thompson, Amy Smith, Brooke Hepburn, Belinda Vakarewa

Hobart Hurricanes Women Actual Playing XI:

Naomi Stalenberg, Emma Thompson, Erica Kershaw, Hayley Jensen, Corinne Hall, Amy Smith, Chloe Rafferty, Chloe Tryon, Nicola Carey, Belinda Vakarewa, Rachel Priest

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

It will be a cat and mouse game between the sun and the clouds on November 18 in Sydney and batters would find it challenging to score runs here. Fast bowlers are expected to make good use of the conditions. Any score above 140 runs would be difficult to chase on this surface.

Venue Details

Hurstville Oval, Sydney is a ground and the shorter square boundaries does offer plenty of hitting opportunities for the batters. It is however a tough wicket to bowl on as the ball does move in the air offering plenty of rewards for the fast bowlers. The small size of the ground makes it a difficult venue for the spinners.

Toss: To Bowl

The weather is likely to make it tough for the batters to play their strokes here and setting up a total would be a big challenge. Sides have generally preferred to bowl first on winning the toss this season. Hence, we see the side winning the toss inviting the opposition to bat first here.