Perth Scorchers vs Hobart Hurricanes, Big Bash League 2020-21, Today Match Prediction 12 Jan 2021

prs vs hbh Match Prediction & Analysis

The middle of the points table in the ongoing Big Bash League is getting a little muddled up now. While the top two teams have been set for a while, there are as many as 5 teams fighting it out to make it to the last two spots. The match between Perth Scorchers and Hobart Hurricanes on January 12 will hence be quite interesting. Perth Scorchers are in the 5th spot currently with 16 points while Hobart Hurricanes are in the 3rd spot with 19 points. Both the teams will be looking for a win to climb higher up the ladder and assert their position in the top 4.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Perth Scorchers Preview

Despite being at the 5th spot, Perth Scorchers would be confident of their chances in this game. After starting off poorly, they have finally found their rhythm and have won 4 games in a row. They have all been convincing wins and Perth is looking in really good shape. They are coming off a 17-run victory against Sydney Thunder, the No.1 team of the season. After batting first, Perth amassed 185-6 and then dismissed Sydney for 168 runs.

Colin Munro, with 232 runs, has been the leading scorer of the season for Perth. Along with him, the other two batsmen to watch out for in this game for the team would be Mitchell Marsh (187 runs) and Josh Inglis (192 runs). Even captain Ashton Turner is in good nick.

On the bowling front, Perth has been doing well with Jhye Richardson leading the bowling unit outstandingly well. He was 17 wickets already and will be the main bowler for the team in this match along with Andrew Tye (10 wickets) and Jason Behrendorff and spinner Fawad Ahmed.
 

Perth Scorchers Predicted Playing XI:

Jason Roy, Liam Livingstone, Josh Inglis (wk), Colin Munro, Mitchell Marsh, Ashton Turner (c), Aaron Hardie, Jhye Richardson, Andrew Tye, Jason Behrendorff, Fawad Ahmed

Perth Scorchers Actual Playing XI:

AJ Tye, Jason Roy, Jason Behrendorff, Liam Livingstone, CT Bancroft, Josh Inglis, Jhye Richardson, Fawad Ahmed, Mitchell Marsh, AJ Turner, Aaron Hardie

Hobart Hurricanes Preview

Hobart Hurricanes will be a little concerned going into this game as they are coming off two back-to-back-losses. In their last match, they suffered a 39-run defeat against Sydney Thunder. While chasing a target of 168 runs, Hobart was restricted to just 128-8. 

Hobart would be hoping that their best batsman this season, Ben McDermott with 299 runs, would deliver. He averages nearly 50 this season and is Hobart’s best bet. Then there is Colin Ingram who has been really good along with Dawid Malan and Tim David. They do have a solid batting unit which has been quite consistent but the lack of form of players like D Arcy Short and captain Peter Handscomb is a concern. 

Hobart’s bowling is decent enough. In Riley Meredith (12 wickets) and Nathan Ellis (12 wickets), they have two reliable performers. But the others like Sandeep Lamichhane, Nick Winter, and Johan Botha would really need to step up now as they haven’t been at their best. For Hobart to be in the top 4, the entire bowling unit would have to work well together.

Hobart Hurricanes Predicted Playing XI:

Ben McDermott (wk), D Arcy Short, Dawid Malan, Colin Ingram, Tim David, Peter Handscomb (c), Macalister Wright, Nathan Ellis, Scott Boland, Sandeep Lamichhane, Nick Winter

Hobart Hurricanes Actual Playing XI:

Riley Meredith, Colin Ingram, Sandeep Lamichhane, Scott Boland, Nathan Ellis, Tim David, D'Arcy Short, Mitchell Owen, Peter Handscomb, Dawid Malan, Ben McDermott

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The pitch at the Perth Stadium has been a terrific batting surface where the ball comes on nicely to the bat when it’s hard. However, it isn’t a batting paradise as seam bowlers, too, get some good bounce and movement on it. 

The weather forecast for the game is clear and we should have a full uninterrupted match. 
 

Venue Details

So far this season, there have two totals of 180-plus achieved at the Perth Stadium. Teams batting first generally have the advantage here and the one that bats first in this match should target a total of about 170-plus.

Toss: To Bat

The team winning the toss would be looking to bat first. All the matches on this venue this season have been won by the teams batting first have so that is likely to be the strategy for this game too.