Here are our Fantasy Picks for the match between the Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Thunder (6:46)
January 30: BBL Eliminator – Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Thunder, Hobart
Our XI: Matthew Wade, D’Arcy Short, Alex Hales, Usman Khawaja, Callum Ferguson, Ben McDermott, Alex Ross, Macalister Wright, Chris Morris, Daniel Sams, Scott Boland
NOTE: We might not always be able to tip you off about late injury (or other relevant) updates.
Captain: Matthew Wade
After having a good summer with the national side, Wade is on his way to making it a memorable season with the Hurricanes. He is the leading run-scorer for his side despite playing just seven innings: he has smashed 337 runs at an average of 56.16 and a strike rate of 173.71, including an unbeaten 130 off 61 balls in his last outing. Having crossed 50 in each of his last three innings, he is your best choice for captaincy.
Vice-captain: Alex Hales
Hales is the joint-second-highest scorer this season with 449 runs from 14 games. His last three knocks in the competition have been 47, 63 and 85. And that 63 came against the Hurricanes at this very venue. A worthy contender for the vice-captain of your side.
Hot picks
D’Arcy Short
Short had a lukewarm start to the season but has come to the party now – his last three innings have been 72, 0 and 103*. And while there is a duck there – against the Hurricanes – he more than made up for it with the ball by picking up 5 for 21. In Short, you have someone who can fetch you big points with both bat and ball.
Macalister Wright
Wright impressed with knocks of 64 off 45 and 70* off 50 in his last two innings, against the Thunder and the Melbourne Renegades respectively. If he continues his form, it could mean a lot of fantasy points for you.
Daniel Sams
With 25 wickets from 14 games at an average of 14.80, Sams is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament. The left-arm seamer has struck every 11.3 balls, and when these two sides met last week, he picked up 4 for 34.
Value picks
Alex Ross: He has been productive without really going big – he crossed 25 in six out of 12 innings but has only one half-century to his name. While Ross’ 281 runs in the season are the fourth-most for the Thunder, none of his team-mates has a higher batting average than his 40.14.
Chris Morris: Morris’ 15 wickets from 12 games make him the second-highest wicket-taker for the Thunder behind Sams. He might have disappointed with the bat but is capable of playing a blinder. Overall, a good player to punt on.
Point to note
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Qais Ahmad’s poor form with the ball continues. After picking up just two wickets in five matches in the Shpageeza Cricket League, he has managed just 12 from 14 games this BBL. In his last four games, he has picked up just one wicket, and despite being a wristspinner, might not add much value to your side.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo