Last Updated on 4 years by Charbel Coorey
BBL 10 Match 14: THU vs REN Preview Dream11 Possible 11 Pitch Report | THU vs REN Dream11 Prediction Today | Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Renegades Key Players | Manuka Oval Pitch Report
It’s festival time as Sydney Thunder take on the Melbourne Renegades on the Boxing Day double header in the Big Bash League. The focus in Australia will be on the 2nd Test between India and Australia at the ‘G’ in Melbourne, but as the tournament progresses and takes interesting twists and turns, the BBL will grab a few eyeballs.
It’s a battle between the two teams sitting in 5th and 6th place respectively in the standings. Despite a promising start for the Thunder, both the teams will be aiming to climb up the ladder and not leave a lot of work to do for the latter half of the tournament.
Melbourne Renegades began the tournament on an impressive note against the Perth Scorchers but post that victory their performance has tapered off. They were bowled for a paltry total of 60 as they were annihilated by the defending champions Sydney Sixers.
In the following game against the Hurricanes they were better than their previous outing but still couldn’t bag a victory. Harper and Roussouw scored fifties as the Red Melbourne outfit resurrected after being reduced to 4-2 in the absence of regular skipper Aaron Finch. The bowling was below par as 4 of the 5 bowlers conceded at more than 8.7 RPO.
On the other hand, the Thunder have had a completely contrast outcome in the tourney. They lost their opening game against the Melbourne Stars but recovered in the following games against Brisbane Heat and Perth Scorchers and have 7 points from 3 games so far. In the previous game against the 3-time champions from Perth, they chased a target of 153 in the final over on the back of captain Ferguson’s 61. He was aided by cameos from Cutting and Davies in the back-end of the innings.
Key Players
- Noor Ahmad became the youngest player to play the BBL. He was the only bowler to concede at less than 8.7 RPO in the Renegades’ last match.
- Aaron Finch has the most runs in Thunder-Renegades matches (276, avg. 34.50).
- Shaun Marsh vs Sydney Thunder: 7 matches, 293 runs, avg. 58.60, SR 140.19.
- Alex Hales has scored two ducks in a row. Can he deliver today? He comes up against a side whom he scored 68 (38) and 31 (25) against last season.
- Callum Ferguson has the 3rd best average in BBL 10 so far, with 57.50 (among the batsmen with minimum 100 runs).
- Sam Harper was the leading run-getter for the Renegades in the previous edition of the Big Bash League. This season he didn’t fire in the first two games but scored an unbeaten 66 against the Hurricanes.
- Kane Richardson is the leading wicket-taker for the Renegades in BBL 10 picking 5 wickets in the season so far.
- Daniel Sams has been a vital cog in Thunder’s campaign so far. He has averaged 19 with the ball and has scalped 5 wickets and with the bat he strikes at 250.
- Adam Milne bowled at an economy rate of 4.25 in the first and only match he played. He was injured in the previous matches and is expected to be back in the mix on the Boxing Day.
- Alex Ross has an average of 62 against the Renegades.
Stats and Facts
- The head-to-head record between the two sides is pretty lopsided as Renegades have 9 matches while the Thunder have just won a couple of them. However, in the last season both the teams won a game each.
- Thunder have never won while batting first against the Renegades.
Possible Playing 11
Melbourne Renegades: Aaron Finch is expected to be back in the setup and it will be interesting to see where he bats in the middle order. Imad Wasim will also feature and that means that Renegades will be going in with a full-strength side.
Probable Playing XI: 1. Aaron Finch (c), 2. Shaun Marsh, 3. Sam Harper (wk), 4. Rilee Rossouw, 5. Mohammad Nabi, 6. Imad Wasim, 7. Jake Fraser-McGurk, 8. Beau Webster, 9. Kane Richardson, 10. Josh Lalor, 11. Peter Hatzoglou.
Sydney Thunder: The Thunder could look at playing the same XI that beat the Scorchers.
Probable Playing XI: 1. Usman Khawaja, 2. Alex Hales, 3. Callum Ferguson (c), 4. Oliver Davies, 5. Ben Cutting, 6. Daniel Sams, 7. Baxter Holt (WK), 8. Chris Green, 9. Adam Milne, 10. Nathan McAndrew, 11. Tanveer Sangha
Manuka Oval Pitch Report and Weather
156 is the average first innings total at this venue in BBL 10. The pitch is expected to be a sporting one. There are 40% chances of rain and that might affect the match.
Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
Option 2:
Match Prediction
Given the current form, Renegades have more than few things to sort out but given the fact that they might field their best XI on Boxing Day, they might give a fight. But anything other than a Thunder win will come as a surprise.
Written by Sarthak Karkhanis. Follow Sarthak on Twitter today.
