Melbourne Stars vs Hobart Hurricanes Preview & Prediction | BBL|14 | League Stage
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The final game of this season’s league stage will determine whether Melbourne Stars or Perth Scorchers claim the fourth and final place in the play-offs.
Date & time: Sunday January 19th 2025: USA PT – 12:15am / USA ET – 3:15am / UK – 8:15am
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia
Weather: Sunny intervals before clear skies later on as temperatures drop from just above 30c.
How to watch: USA – Willow TV / UK – Sky Sports & Sky Go / Australia – Seven Network, Foxtel & Kayo Sports
How to get tickets for BBL|14: Click here for the latest ticket information for Melbourne Stars vs Hobart Hurricanes
Melbourne Stars Preview: Win and in
For Melbourne Stars, the equation is very simple. Victory here over the league leading Hurricanes and they will finish in fourth-place, guaranteeing a spot in the play-offs. Defeat though, would end the Stars’ season and mean Perth Scorchers advance after their win yesterday against Adelaide Strikers.
Melbourne Stars just being in this situation represents a truly remarkable turnaround following the worst possible start. They had lost each of their opening five games before winning their next four to set-up a ‘win and in’ scenario.
Hobart Hurricanes Preview: Top spot secured
It’s been a dream campaign for Hobart Hurricanes so far in their hunt for a first ever men’s BBL title. Despite having one match still to play, the Tasmanian-based side have already secured top spot and an automatic home berth in Tuesday’s qualifier against second-placed Sydney Sixers, an opponent the Hurricanes have already beaten once this season.
Having already won the league, it would be no surprise if Hobart took the opportunity to rest some key players here, especially the bowling front with a short turnaround between this match and the qualifier.
Melbourne Stars Betting Analysis
There are plenty of players no doubt fired up for this encounter but none more so than captain Marcus Stoinis. Even during their losing streak, Stoinis led from the front with admirable resistance, scoring regular runs with the bat. Currently the Stars’ top scorer across the league stage with 264 runs, a stake on Stoinis to accumulate 20+ runs against the Hurricanes feels like a sensible move to make.
Hobart Hurricanes Betting Analysis
It would be wise to focus on the Hobart batters when considering that their bowling attack could be rotated. Mitchell Owen has been a top-performer all campaign and his 270 runs scored exceeds that of Stoinis and all bar three players in the BBL this season. Backing Owen to wind up as Hobart’s highest individual scorer in this last league game is well worth considering.
Melbourne Stars vs Hobart Hurricanes Expert Prediction
The MCG will likely be rocking in support of the home team as Melbourne Stars aim to complete what has been a BBL league stage comeback for the ages, going from rock-bottom of the table at the halfway stage, to play-off qualifiers come the conclusion. All the momentum is with them, whilst they could well be up against a weakened Hobart Hurricanes side, who likely have one eye on Tuesday’s qualifier. Therefore, back the Stars to grab the victory they need for that fourth-placed finish.
Melbourne Stars vs Hobart Hurricanes Top Tip: Melbourne Stars to win
