Hobart Hurricanes play Melbourne Renegades in the 26th game of the Big Bash League 2011-12 on Wednesday, January 18. The game will be played at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart.
The home team is already through to the semi-finals of the Big Bash League but a win will still help their chances of hosting their semi-final. On the other hand, the Renegades are tethering on the brink of elimination. Even a win here will not save them for elimination given how poorly they are placed with respect to their net run-rate.
As things currently stand, the Renegades have four points with a game in hand, while the fourth-placed Brisbane have six points but have played all their matches. A win for the Renegades will push them level on points with Heat, but Brisbane’s net run-rate is a positive 0.32 and Melbourne are at 0.67.
If we were to take an example of Renegades scoring 200 runs in their 20 overs, they will be able to overtake Brisbane on their net run-rate only if they restrict Hobart to 87 in their 20 overs – an uphill task for any time in a T20 game. In short, their chances of making it through to the semi-final are as good as gone.
Hobart, on their part, began the tournament rather well and notched up four wins in a row. However, they have stumbled a tad in the last two games and lost both of them. It will do them no harm to go into the knock-out stage with a win under their belt.
While some teams may have been affected adversely because of the nine-day break between the games, Hobart may have actually relished the gap. They seemed to have got into a rut and the break would have allowed them to reassess the situation.
The Hurricanes should be favourites to win this one.
The Hobart Hurricanes v Melbourne Renegades Big Bash League match will begin at 5.00 am GMT on January 18.
