Match: Hobart Hurricanes v Perth Scorchers
Date: 21 January, Saturday
Time: 1:20pm SGT/10:50am IST/5:20am GMT
Competition: Big Bash League 2016/17
Venue: Bellerive Oval, Hobart
TV Channel: Star Cricket will provide live TV coverage in Singapore.
Live streaming: Hotstar
Overview
Hobart Hurricanes are still in with a chance to make the semi-final of the ongoing Big Bash League tournament. The seventh-ranked side, with six points and a negative net run rate (-0.179) from seven games, need a big, big win against third-placed Perth Scorchers (eight points with +0.331 NRR) on Saturday.
Tim Paine-led unit are also depending on a couple of other results for their qualification. While a win for top-ranked Brisbane Heat in Friday's BBL clash against Melbourne Renegades (sixth with six points), will ease their passage, Melbourne Stars will have to thrash Sydney Sixers to give them a brighter chance, given they win their Saturday morning clash.
The Hurricanes showed intent when they gunned down a 222-run target against Melbourne Renegades in their last game on 12 January. Ben McDermott led the way with the bat by smashing a 52-ball 114 and George Bailey chipped in with a half-century. Apart from their batters, Paine would also want a top effort from his bowling unit, that has the likes of Stuart Broad, Sam Rainbird and Cameron Boyce among others.
Scorchers, on the other hand, were in a comfortable position to make the last-four stages of the tournament before they faced a thrashing against Melbourne Stars on 14 January in their last match. Their top five batsmen contributed only 18 runs as Michael Beer, Ben Hilfenhaus and Scot Boland rattled their batting order.
Michael Killinger's men cannot afford another big defeat as there is a chance of them finishing out of top-four. The skipper will bank on their pacemen Mitchell Johnson, Andrew Tye, Jhye Richardson and Tim Bresnan to deliver in pressure situation. Scorchers can still qualify with a loss but if they are to go the distance, a momentum-changing win is necessary.
TV Schedule
Singapore: Star Cricket
India: Star Sports
US: Willow TV
UK: BT Sport 2
Australia: Network 10
South Africa: Supersport
Team News
Hurricanes
Squad: Paine (c), Short, Sangakkara (wk), Bailey, Christian, Michael, Kingston, Rainbird, Boyce, Broad, Reed, Webster, Wells
Scorchers
Squad: Bancroft, Bell, Cartwright, Whiteman (wk), Klinger (c), Johnson, Agar, Richardson, Turner, Valente, Tye, Willey, Bresnan
