Cricket: KFC Big Bash Semi-Final – Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Sixers Odds and Betting Preview

Story by George Coombs on 2012-01-21 23:46:48

HOBART, AUSTRALIA – The second Big Bash Semi-final sees the Hobart Hurricanes entertain the Sydney Sixers and both sides will hope to book a place in the inaugural Big Bash Final against the Perth Scorchers. A full house is expected in Hobart which should provide the perfect backdrop to an entertaining evening of cricket.

Hobart Hurricanes are currently an industry best price of 4/5 with Sportingbet for this encounter whilst the Sydney Sixers are a general 11/10 chance to record a win at the Blundstone Arena on Sunday.

Hobart have only won one of their last three matches, stuttering after a superb start to the competition. The toss could be crucial to the outcome of the game as the Hurricanes have won all three matches in which they have batted first. The Sixers will not let their opponents have the chance to post a total if they win their sixth consecutive toss as they have batted first in their last five matches. Both teams boast very strong spin bowlers and the Sixers will hope the experience of Stuart MacGill will give them the edge as he has turned back the clock to put in some superb performances for the Sydney franchise.

Sydney Sixers come into this game on the back of a thrilling last ball victory against the Scorchers in the final round robin match and they will hope to set up another meeting with the Perth side by winning on Sunday. When these sides met in the league Hobart won by 42 runs and the Sixers will be eager to reverse this result against a dangerous Hobart side. The Sixers need to stop the competition’s leading run scorer Travis Birt from playing in his fluent, expansive style that has helped him score 334 runs for Hobart in the Big Bash.

In the Top Hobart Batsman betting, Travis Birt and Owais Shah are unsurprisingly the market leaders quoted at 7/2 with Boylesports and Ladbrokes. The pair have been the key performers with the bat for the Hurricanes and Birt will relish the prospect of facing spin on his home ground. Shah has hit 282 runs in the competition at an average of 94 and he and Birt have scored over 50 per cent of their side’s runs to date. If these two players fail then Hobart will hope Jonathon Well or Mark Cosgrove, both priced up at 4/1 with bet365 can produce a big innings. Phil Jaques can be backed at 5/1 with Paddy Power while the exciting Tom Triffitt looks a big price at 12/1 with Stan James.

 The Sydney Sixers have a formidable batting line-up and Michael Lumb is the most fancied player at 4/1 with Boylesports in the Top Sydney Sixers Batsman market. Moises Henriques and Nic Maddinson are both quoted at 9/2 with bet365 and Henriques has been crucial at the top of the order for Sydney. Maddinson is the Sixers’ leading run scorer but is yet to register a half-century in the tournament but could change this statistic this evening. Steven Smith is available at 6/1 with bet365 whilst Ben Rohrer is an 8/1 chance with Ladbrokes in this market.  

The boundaries at the Blundstone Arena are very short which should give the batsmen the advantage as they try to clear the boundary rope. In the Most Sixes betting, the hosts Hobart are the 11/10 favourites with bet365 and they will rely on Owais Shah and Travis Birt at the top of the order. Paddy Power quote the Sixers as a 13/10 chance in this market whilst the draw is priced up at 6/1 with bet365.

Play begins at 08.00 GMT on Sunday 22nd January and punters can watch every delivery via bet365’s excellent online streaming service.

Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Sixers – Match Result Odds
Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Sixers – Top Hobart Hurricanes Batsman Odds
Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Sixers – Top Sydney Sixers Batsman Odds
Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Sixers – Most Sixes Betting