Paine and Watson betting tips for BBL Hurricanes vs. Thunder

BBL|06 Match 20 – Sunday, 8 January, 2017 from 7:10pm AEDST, Blundstone Arena, Hobart.

DEFENDING BBL champions the Sydney Thunder are almost out of title contention as they travel down to Tasmania to face the in-form Hobart Hurricanes.

The Thunder have just one win to their name after five matches and are paying $51 at Sportsbet.com.au to win BBL|06. A turn around in fortunes is needed quickly if they are to get into finals contention.

To compound their poor playing record, Sydney will have to mount a finals challenge without arguably the competition’s best player, Andre Russell.

The man they call ‘Dre Russ’ will miss potentially the rest of BBL|06 after suffering a left hamstring injury in his side’s victory over the Melbourne Stars.

Sydney Thunder physiotherapist Murray Ryan said the West Indian allrounder had been battling a knee issue since returning to Australia, but the hamstring injury was too difficult to manage.

“Andre has been playing with long standing tendinitis of the right knee, that flared up in the opening rounds for the BBL,” Ryan said.

“This was investigated via MRI following the Perth Scorchers game and several interventions implemented to assist his symptoms and allow him to continue playing.

“Unfortunately Andre’s playing fitness has been compounded further by an injury to his left hamstring – the extent of this injury to be confirmed further via scans in Sydney tomorrow, however initial signs suggest a minimum 4-6 week recovery.”

Fellow West Indian Carlos Brathwaite comes into the Thunder side to replace Andre Russell, while former England T20 captain Eoin Morgan also departs the harbour city due to international commitments. He is replaced by compatriot James Vince.

Tim Paine batting markets

Tim Paine has been one of the Hurricanes’ mainstays at the top of the order since the competition’s inception and he is one of the BBL’s most explosive batsman.

Throughout the Hurricanes’ four games this season the wicketkeeper has top scored for his side in two of the matches and fell nine runs short of the competition’s first century on Boxing Day.

We believe it is always prudent to favour an opening batsman in the most runs market and when you have a mercurial talent such as Tim Paine facing the first over of an innings it is ill-advised to look past him.

Man of the match: $7 at Sportsbet.com.au

Top match batsman: $5.50 at Sportsbet.com.au

Top Heat run-scorer: $3.50 at Sportsbet.com.au

Tim Paine total runs over 23.5: $1.87 at Sportsbet.com.au

Hurricanes vs. Thunder match tips

Two teams that need to start putting together some wins meet down in the apple isle on Sunday night as the Hobart Hurricanes host the Sydney Thunder at Blundstone Arena.

Last time out the Hurricanes defeated the Strikers comprehensively at the beginning of the week to record their second win from four outings. The two teams meet again on Friday night in a pivotal match for the ‘canes, who are currently $10 in the title market at Sportsbet.com.au.

The Thunder have been dismal so far this season, but their surprise victory over the Melbourne Stars on Wednesday night could boost optimism around the camp that BBL|06 will not be a completely wasted campaign.

A loss on Sunday would put a line through the Sydney Thunder season.

The Thunder’s greatest strength was their versatility. The departures of Mike Hussey and Jacques Kallis have impacted the team more than they anticipated while injuries to Shane Watson and now Andre Russell have hamstrung both their bowling and batting attacks.

There are no such issues for the men in purple who have a clean bill of health. The only issue for the ‘canes is finding consistently from match to match. If they are able to unlock the formula they are a legitimate title contender.

BBL is one of the most difficult sports in the world to predict given its impetuous nature but on paper this one looks like a formality.

The Hurricanes should smash the injury rattled Thunder.

Match result: Hobart Hurricanes to win ($1.77 at Sportsbet.com.au)