The Hobart Hurricanes and the Sydney Sixers picked up comprehensive wins in round one of the new Big Bash League season, but when the two teams clash at the Blundstone Arena on Tuesday, it will be the former who start as the clear favourites.
Hobart were impressive, and then some, in their opening match against the Melbourne Stars, running away with a handsome 52-run victory.
Darren Sammy showed just how good a signing he might turn out to be by smashing a 12-ball 38 to help the Hobart Hurricanes to a score of 190, with the Stars unable to get anywhere near the total as Ben Hilfenhaus finished with four wickets.
"We all wanted to get off to a good start in this competition," Hurricanes coach Damien Wright was quoted as saying by the team's official website. "We showed the other night that we have some pretty exciting players and it was a really good effort by all of the guys."
Wright believes his team's batting depth could be the key to the Hobart Hurricanes making a deep run in this season of the BBL.
"It's always nice in this competition to bat as deep as you can and we have that luxury," added Wright. "I thought we showed that the other night after being three for 30 and not in a great spot. We've got some really good depth this year."
The Sydney Sixers, who have a whole host of players currently unavailable owing to Australia duty, did pretty well with a small squad to get the better of the Melbourne Renegades, with the bowlers doing their jobs well by restricting the opponents to 154/7 in 20 overs.
Led by a marauding Nic Maddinson, who made 84 from 54 balls, the Sydney Sixers got to the target with an over and a ball to spare to register their first win of the Big Bash League this season, and they will be further boosted by the inclusion of their overseas player – the big-hitting Riki Wessels.
Also, looking forward to playing in front of the Hurricanes fans will be Doug Bollinger, who decided to switch teams and play for the Sixers this season after a couple of years with Hobart.
"It will be just good to play here," said Bollinger to the official Sixers website. "The [new] stand looks great. They are loyal fans down here so it will be a good game.
"I decided to stay at home this year. I've got a young family so I wanted to have a Christmas at home and be around them.
"I had a great couple of years here with the guys but it was time to stay home, family comes first."
Where to Watch Live
The match is set for a 7.10 pm local time (1.40 pm IST, 8.10 am GMT) start with live coverage in India on Star Sports 4 and Star Sports HD1. Viewers in India can also catch all the match action via live streaming on Starsports.com.
Australia viewers can watch the match live on Channel 10, with the live streaming option available on Ten Play or Cricket Australia Live. UK viewers can watch the game live on Sky Sports 2, while the option to live stream is on Sky Go or Watch Sky Sports.
New Zealand viewers can catch the match on Sky Sport or Sky Sport Go, while audience in the Middle East and North Africa can do the same on OSN or OSN Play. Viewers in Africa watch the match on SuperSport while the game can also be live streamed on SuperSport Online.
