Sydney Sixers v Hobart Hurricanes Big Bash Tips: Sixers too reliant on Smith

• Sixers or Hurricanes for final?

• Smith win rate extraordinary

• Runs lines may be high

• Hurricanes slightly underrated

• For Betfair's latest cricket betting odds click here

Sydney Sixers v Hobart Hurricanes
Friday 23 January, 08.15
TV: Live on Sky Sports

Sydney Sixers v Hobart Hurricanes Big Bash team news 

Sixers threw away a golden opportunity to go straight to the final, failing to chase a below-par 147 against Scorchers. Steve Smith top scored again but the rest of the batters could be guilty of leaving all to the Australia star. Babar Azam leaving for Pakistan might help. He's had a massive strop after Steve Smith denied him a single two games ago and Moises Henriques admitted it took him two days to get over. Daniel Hughes should return to the opening slot.

Probable Sixers XI: Smith, Hughes, Phillipe, Henriques, Shaw, Davies, Edwards, Manenti, Dwarshuis, Abbott, Starc

Hurricanes have been handed  a major boost with Nathan Ellis, their skip, being declared fit to play. Ellis missed the eliminator win over Melbourne Stars. Billy Stanlake is expected to miss out.

Probable Hurricanes XI: Owen, Ward, Webster, McDermott, Chaudhary, Wade, Jordan, Prestwidge, Ellis, Rishad, Meredith

Sydney Sixers v Hobart Hurricanes Big Bash pitch report

In the last 30 games at the SCG in T20 the average first-innings score is 164. Just over 53% of matches are won by the side batting first - a trend not big enough to bet on. Sportsbook's total match runs may look a little toppy. Taking on the highest line with Sixers at unders 173.5 at 10/111.91 is a decent option, particularly as they've just been rolled for 99

Sydney Sixers v Hobart Hurricanes Big Bash match prediction

This is a contest with enough quality to be the final. Indeed, Hurricanes are still smarting from not making the top two when a momentary lapse of concentration in the chase against Heat - and brilliant death bowling from Zaman Khan - cost them on net run rate. Sixers were the beneficiaries and so revenge is on the minds of the Hurricanes players.

They will reckon that match after match they have been the best in the comp and it is hard to argue, particularly as Sixers have brought in their international stars to give a false impression of their quality. 

There is a suspicion that Sixers are too reliant on Smith now and, man for man, Hurricanes more than match up. This is a choice affair so 'Canes can be trusted at 2.1211/10.

Sydney Sixers v Hobart Hurricanes Big Bash player bets

Steve Smith has won nine of his last 12 top bats in the Bash so will be all the rage at 9/52.80 for another. Whether Smith gets one with his name on or makes a mistake is a concern. Cricket is about failure and this sort of run of consistency might not continue.

With 10 points for a catch, 20 for a wicket and one for a run, the performance quote at over 33.5 at 4/51.80 does not require an outstanding performance. Remember he fields in all the key positions. 

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