Hobart Hurricanes Women vs Sydney Thunder Women: The Hobart Hurricanes Women will take on Sydney Thunder Women in an exciting Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) encounter at the Bellerive Oval.

Match Details

• Venue: Bellerive Oval, Hobart
• Date: 28th October 2024
• Start Time: 18:10 Local / 07:10 UTC

Head-to-Head Record

• Total Matches: 16
• Hobart Hurricanes W Wins: 6
• Sydney Thunder W Wins: 10
• Last 5 Matches:
  • Hobart Hurricanes W: 4 Wins
  • Sydney Thunder W: 1 Win

The Hurricanes have been dominant recently, winning four out of their last five meetings against the Thunder. This gives the home side a psychological edge going into the contest.

Recent Form (Last 5 Matches)

• Hobart Hurricanes W: L, W, W, W, L
• Sydney Thunder W: W, L, L, L, L

The Hurricanes come into this match with better momentum, having won three of their last five games. In contrast, Sydney Thunder has struggled with consistency, securing just one win from their previous five encounters.

Last 5 Matches

• 09-Nov-2023: No result (abandoned with a toss)
• 30-Oct-2023: Hurricanes won by 24 runs
• 18-Oct-2022: Hurricanes won by 19 runs
• 14-Oct-2022: Hurricanes won by 4 runs
• 20-Nov-2021: Hurricanes won by 49 runs

Team News and Key Players

Hobart Hurricanes W

• Captain: Elyse Villani
• Key Batters: Lizelle Lee, Elyse Villani, Danni Wyatt
• Key Bowlers: Heather Graham, Nicola Carey, Molly Strano

The Hurricanes will rely on Lizelle Lee’s firepower at the top, supported by Villani and Wyatt. In the bowling department, Heather Graham and Nicola Carey are expected to play pivotal roles.

Sydney Thunder W

• Captain: Tahlia Wilson
• Key Batters: Chamari Athapaththu, Heather Knight, Phoebe Litchfield
• Key Bowlers: Hannah Darlington, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Shabnim Ismail

Sydney Thunder boasts a strong squad with international stars like Chamari Athapaththu and Heather Knight. Hannah Darlington’s wicket-taking prowess will be crucial to restricting the Hurricanes.

Squads

Hobart Hurricanes W

Suzie Bates, Nicola Carey, Zoe Cooke, Heather Graham, Ruth Johnston, Lizelle Lee, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Tabatha Saville, Amy Smith, Lauren Smith, Molly Strano, Rachel Trenaman, Chloe Tryon, Elyse Villani (C), Callie Wilson, Danni Wyatt

Sydney Thunder W

Georgia Adams, Chamari Athapaththu, Samantha Bates, Hannah Darlington, Sienna Eve, Saskia Horley, Shabnim Ismail, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Heather Knight, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Claire Moore, Taneale Peschel, Georgia Voll, Tahlia Wilson (C)

Players to Watch

• Lizelle Lee (Hobart Hurricanes):
  10 matches • 292 runs • Avg: 41.71 • SR: 142.43
• Chamari Athapaththu (Sydney Thunder):
  10 matches • 306 runs • Avg: 38.25 • SR: 120.94
• Heather Graham (Hobart Hurricanes):
  8 matches • 14 wickets • Economy: 7.07
• Hannah Darlington (Sydney Thunder):
  8 matches • 15 wickets • Economy: 8.46

SWOT Analysis: Hobart Hurricanes Women vs Sydney Thunder Women

Hobart Hurricanes Women – SWOT Analysis

Strengths

• Recent Dominance in Head-to-Head: Hurricanes have won 4 of the last 5 encounters, giving them a psychological advantage.
• Balanced Batting Lineup: With power hitters like Lizelle Lee, Danni Wyatt, and Elyse Villani, the Hurricanes boast both aggressive batting and experience.
• Effective Bowling Unit: Heather Graham, Nicola Carey, and Molly Strano provide wicket-taking options and control through spin and seam.
• Home Advantage: Playing at Bellerive Oval gives them familiarity with pitch conditions, enhancing their confidence.

Weaknesses

• Inconsistency in Form: The team’s recent form shows some inconsistency, with two losses in the last five matches.
• Reliance on Key Players: The batting heavily depends on Lee and Villani, and a top-order collapse could expose a fragile middle-order.
• Limited Fast Bowling Depth: Hurricanes rely more on medium-pacers and spin, which could be exploited by aggressive batters.

Opportunities

• Capitalizing on Thunder’s Poor Form: Sydney Thunder’s recent struggles (1 win in 5 matches) present a prime chance for the Hurricanes to build momentum.
• Building Confidence for the Season: A win at home could boost morale and help secure a top spot in the league table.
• Targeting Weak Thunder Bowlers: The Thunder have leaked runs recently, and Hurricanes can take advantage of that to post big scores.

Threats

• Explosive Opponents: Sydney Thunder possess dangerous players like Chamari Athapaththu, who can turn games single-handedly.
• Weather Interference: The November 9th encounter between these two teams was abandoned, so another weather-affected match could spoil the momentum.
• Pressure of Expectations: Despite their recent dominance, the Hurricanes will need to manage the pressure of continuing their winning streak.

Sydney Thunder Women – SWOT Analysis

Strengths

• Experienced International Stars: Thunder’s lineup features top-class international players like Chamari Athapaththu, Heather Knight, and Shabnim Ismail.
• Powerful All-Rounders: Players such as Sammy-Jo Johnson and Hannah Darlington offer balance in both batting and bowling.
• Pace Threat: Shabnim Ismail’s raw pace can trouble the Hurricanes’ batters, especially under the lights.

Weaknesses

• Poor Recent Form: With only one win in their last five matches, Thunder come into this contest with low confidence.
• Inconsistent Middle Order: The team’s middle order has underperformed, leaving too much pressure on Athapaththu and Knight.
• Expensive Bowling: Hannah Darlington’s economy rate (8.46) reflects the team’s struggle to contain runs.

Opportunities

• Chance to Rebuild Momentum: A win against a formidable Hurricanes side could reignite Thunder’s campaign.
• Exploiting Hurricanes’ Inconsistency: Hurricanes have shown moments of vulnerability, which Thunder can exploit with early breakthroughs.
• Athapaththu’s Impact: If Athapaththu gets going, she can set the tone and neutralize the Hurricanes’ bowling attack early on.

Threats

• Weak Recent Record Against Hurricanes: Thunder have lost four of the last five matches against the Hurricanes, which may affect their confidence.
• Dependency on Key Players: Over-reliance on a few star performers like Athapaththu and Knight leaves the team vulnerable if they fail.
• Away Disadvantage: Playing away at Hobart, where the Hurricanes thrive, presents a significant challenge for Thunder.

Hobart Hurricanes Women vs Sydney Thunder Women: Match Prediction

Despite Sydney Thunder being slight favorites with the bookmakers, the Hurricanes have enjoyed recent success against them and will be confident playing at home. Both teams are evenly matched on paper, but the Hurricanes’ strong recent form gives them the edge.

• Bookmaker Odds:
  • Sydney Thunder W to Win: @1.73
  • Hobart Hurricanes W to Win: @2.05

Prediction: Hobart Hurricanes Women to win by a narrow margin.

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