Hurricanes vs. Thunder betting tips & BBL specials

BAD weather is brewing down in Launceston.

The Hobart Hurricanes were well beaten by the upwardly mobile Melbourne Renegades in their only game of BBL07 to date.

The most frustrating aspect of that defeat was Alex Doolan, D’Arcy Short, Ben McDermott, George Bailey, Dan Christian and Matthew Wade all failing to capitalise on strong starts with the bat.

The men in purple need to post much higher totals to compensate for one of the competition’s weakest bowling attacks.

The only ‘Canes bowler to go at under nine runs per over was West Indian recruit Jofra Archer, who starred with two wickets and 14 dots from his four overs.

The Sydney Thunder have endured a mixed start.

Back-to-back defeats have well and truly taken the gloss off the Green Machine’s thrilling Sydney Smash win on opening night.

They were embarrassed in Adelaide before going down with a ball to spare in a rain-affected clash at the Gabba on Wednesday.

One win from three leaves the BBL05 champions with the worst net run-rate in the comp.

As such, anything but a win in Tasmania this weekend will give the Thunder pole position in the wooden spoon race.

Shane Watson odds and specials

Man of the match	+650	+650	+550
Top Thunder runscorer	+250	+250	+210
To score 50	+300	+300	–
Top Thunder wicket-taker	+650	+800	+700

One positive for the Thunder is the form of their captain.

Shane Watson leads the Big Bash League runscoring charts after hitting two half-centuries in three matches.

His 145 runs have come at a strike rate of 157.60 – excellent going in anyone’s language.

Watson’s importance to the Thunder was highlighted in the defeat to the Strikers.

He made only 12 in that game as his side fell some 53 runs short of a reachable target.

The former Test and ODI star is also a dab hand with the ball and offers sneaky value for top wicket-taker.

Hurricanes vs. Thunder match prediction

• Hurricanes to win – +100 at William Hill
• George Bailey top batsman – +350 at Sportsbet

How do you choose between two teams destined for mediocrity?

The ‘Canes have some experienced heads who will need to deliver much more if they are to scare the top four.

The Thunder’s batting looks brittle beyond Watson, while star quick Mitch McClenaghan has been costly in the last two games.

The head-to-head record is firmly in favour of the Tasmanians, who have won five of six meetings with their mainland rivals.

It could be a shootout, but expect the Hurricanes’ superior batting depth to win out.

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