Last Updated on 1 month by Charbel Coorey

HUR vs HEA Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report: BBL 2021/22 Match 29 | HUR vs HEA Dream11 Prediction Today | Hurricanes vs Heat Key Players | Bellerive Oval Pitch Report

After the chaos of the last two days where one match was postponed due to COVID-19 and the other just went ahead, the BBL train continues to chug on. This time, the action moves to Hobart for the first match of the New Year, with the in-form Hobart Hurricanes, led by the brilliant Ben McDermott, looking to keep the momentum going against Brisbane Heat.

The Hurricanes have stormed up the table to third spot courtesy of three straight victories. In the process, McDermott became the first player in BBL history to notch up consecutive tons, and the way he is playing, you can’t rule out the possibility of another big score.

Breaking his run of form, as well as keeping others like Wade and co. quiet, is the task staring the Heat in the face today. They themselves should have defended 106 last game vs Sixers, only to lose the match after restricting their opponents to 35/7. However, to move up the table, the Heat need to improve their batting as there has been too many collapses on their part so far this season.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

• What a run of form Ben McDermott is enjoying. He has scored two centuries in a row after a score of 67 before that, representing a brilliant move back to the opening position. No player in BBL history has scored as many centuries as McDermott (3).
• McDermott has a modest record vs Heat (7 inns, 121 runs, avg. 20.17, SR 128.72), but is in the form to turn that around. He also loves batting at Bellerive Oval, with the third-most T20 runs of any player on this ground (833, avg. 43.84, SR 133.07).
• Can Matthew Wade overcome a bit of a form slump? The skipper has scored just 62 runs in his last five innings. He has a middling record against the Heat since 2018 (5 inns, 105 runs, avg. 26.25, SR 117.98), and has similar numbers at Bellerive Oval too (463 runs, avg. 24.37, SR 142.90).
• D’Arcy Short loves playing the Brisbane Heat. Short has the most runs of any Hurricanes player against the Heat, with 386 runs in eight innings at a brilliant average of 64.33 and strike rate of 143.49. This includes a century.
• Short is having an OK season to date (7 inns, 206 runs, avg. 34.33, SR 104.56), but he can go to another level today. He is just 33 runs away from 1,000 T20 runs at Bellerive Oval (avg. 35.81, SR 137.16).
• Tim David was at his finishing best last game vs Renegades. He smashed 30 off nine balls to propel the Hurricanes to over 200. Also, David made scores of 36 and 21 last season vs Heat at a strike rate of 150.
• Nathan Ellis has historically struggled vs Heat (2 wickets in 4 games, avg. 67.50), but he is having an excellent BBL 11 campaign. The seamer has taken eight wickets in seven matches, including five in his last four matches on this ground.
• Ellis has 19 wickets in 14 matches at Bellerive Oval at an average of 20.68 and economy rate of 7.35.
• Tom Rogers is the equal-leading wicket-taker in BBL 11 (6 inns, 12 wickets, avg. 14.00, econ. 7.63). He has been excellent in the crunch overs with his yorkers. He is coming off 3/24 vs Renegades.
• Riley Meredith has eight wickets in just four matches vs Heat (avg. 14.13, econ. 7.53). Also, Meredith has the fifth-most wickets of any men’s player in T20s at Bellerive Oval (20 in 15 matches, avg. 22.40, econ. 8.15).

Brisbane Heat:

• The Heat need Chris Lynn to fire in what has been a quiet season for him. Lynn has the most runs in Heat-Hurricanes matches with 442 runs in 11 innings at a superb average of 55.25 and strike rate of 155.09.
• Lynn has batted seven times in T20s on this ground for a total of 160 runs at an average of 32.00 and strike rate of 141.59. However, 88 of those 160 runs came in one innings.
• Jimmy Peirson has a solid record vs Hurricanes, with 237 runs in 12 innings at an average of 29.63 and strike rate of 122.80.
• Ben Duckett has been the Heat’s best with the bat this season. He is their top scorer with 213 runs at an average of 30.42 and strike rate of 139.21.
• Sam Heazlett is also having a strong season, despite missing out last game vs Sixers. He has made scores of 42, 34, 44* 5, 49, 26 and 4 this season at an overall strike rate of 141.66.
• Heazlett vs Hurricanes: 6 inns, 124 runs, avg. 20.67, SR 129.17. He scored 48 (27) against them last season, and will be looking to produce something similar today.
• James Bazley is the Heat’s leading wicket-taker this season with 11 scalps in seven matches (avg. 19.18, econ. 7.81). Also, Bazley enjoyed great success with the bat last season vs Hurricanes with 31* (19) and 49* (31).
• Mark Steketee is not far behind with a terrific haul of nine wickets in four matches this season (avg. 13.77, econ. 7.75). Steketee also has a good wicklet-taking record against the Hurricanes, with 15 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 23.53. However, he will be aiming to bring his economy rate of 9.53 down.
• Mujeeb ur Rahman has taken just three wickets in seven matches this season at an average of 60.66. However, this could be the game where he finds some success as he enjoys bowling vs Hurricanes. He took 5/15 in his last match against them a year ago, part of eight wickets in four matches.

Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 18, Hurricanes 11, Heat 7.
• Hurricanes lead Heat 5-2 in meetings at Bellerive Oval.
• Brisbane Heat currently sit fifth on the BBL 11 table, but they have played a game extra than COVID-ravaged Melbourne Stars. They need to win today.

Possible Playing 11

Hobart Hurricanes have named their squad for this match. They should stick with the same XI.

Hobart Hurricanes: 1. Matthew Wade (c & wk), 2. Ben McDermott, 3. D’Arcy Short, 4. Peter Handscomb, 5. Tim David, 6. Harry Brook, 7. Jordan Thompson, 8. Nathan Ellis, 9. Tom Rogers, 10. Riley Meredith, 11. Sandeep Lamichhane

Brisbane Heat have also named their squad. It remains to be seen if they persist with Jimmy Peirson as opener.

Brisbane Heat: 1. Jimmy Peirson (c & wk), 2. Chris Lynn, 3. Tom Cooper, 4. Ben Duckett, 5. Sam Heazlett, 6. Max Bryant, 7. Xavier Bartlett, 8. Jack Wildermuth, 9. James Bazley, 10. Mark Steketee, 11. Mujeeb ur Rahman

Bellerive Oval Hobart Pitch Report and Weather

It has been a cracking batting pitch so far this season at Bellerive Oval. The average first innings score this season is 176 in four matches, with the team batting first winning three. The last game saw a classy McDermott century lead the Hurricanes to a chase of 176 vs the struggling Strikers.

There is a chance of early afternoon showers in Hobart, but conditions should be fine for this match.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

• Wicket-keepers: Ben McDermott, Ben Duckett
• Batsmen: Chris Lynn
• All-rounders: D’Arcy Short, James Bazley
• Bowlers: Mark Steketee, Riley Meredith

Match Prediction

Hurricanes to win.

Also read: Twitter reactions as Bumrah, Shami, KL Rahul lead India to win over South Africa at Centurion