Free betting tips & BBL specials for Hurricanes vs. Strikers

THE Hobart Hurricanes are on the board and off the bottom.

A vastly improved batting display at Spotless Stadium on Monday saw the Tasmanians edge out a Sydney Thunder side that had smashed them in Launceston only two days prior.

D’Arcy Short starred with 97 off 63 balls as the ‘Canes posted 189 – the biggest innings total so far this season.

Hurricanes leg-spinner Cameron Boyce also impressed, recording figures of 2/14 off three overs in a high-scoring shootout.

The men in purple will need more of the same when they face one of the competition’s form teams on Thursday.

The Adelaide Strikers have defied the odds to win their first three games in dominant fashion.

Their in-form bowlers were irresistible on New Year’s Eve as Ben Laughlin (3/11), Rashid Khan (2/19) and man of the match Michael Neser (2/7) bundled out the Brisbane Heat for only 91 runs.

Travis Head (1/8), Billy Stanlake (1/26), Peter Siddle (0/10) and Colin Ingram (0/4) also made big contributions to one of the greatest displays from a fielding side in Big Bash League history.

It is little wonder Adelaide’s title odds have plunged over the last fortnight.

Most online bookmakers started them on the sixth line of betting after they lost Brad Hodge, Kane Richardson, Kieron Pollard and several other experienced players in the off season.

Now the Strikers are +350 second-favourites at Sportsbet.com.au.

Rashid Khan odds and specials

Man of the match	–	+600	+700
Top Strikers wicket-taker	+250	+200	+250
Top Strikers runscorer	+4000	+3300	+3500

Afghani cricket fans have a lot to look forward to.

Rashid is only 19 years of age, but he looks – literally and figuratively – like a player with years of international experience.

The gifted leg-spinner has picked up two wickets at less than six runs per over in each of his three appearances this season.

Opposition batsmen struggle to put him away and his googly is as dangerous as any in T20 cricket right now.

Rashid is also a very handy lower-order bat who has notched scores of 40 or more in three of his last four appearances for Afghanistan.

Strikers vs. Hurricanes tips

• Adelaide Strikers to win – -149.25 at Sportsbet
• Alex Carey 25+ runs – +115 at William Hill

The Strikers are the team to watch right now.

Head is doing a fine job as skipper and his bowlers are delivering the goods day in, day out.

Like the all-conquering Perth Scorchers, they do not need big totals to win matches.

The Hurricanes are another story altogether.

The weaknesses in their bowling attack were exposed again on Monday night as Jos Buttler very nearly slogged the Thunder to victory.

Are the likes of Simon Milenko and Clive Rose really good enough to get the ‘Canes to the Big Bash finals?

Back the Strikers to go 4-0 and reclaim top spot on the BBL ladder.