๐ ๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฆ ๐๐
Hobart Hurricanes
Melbourne Stars
The 2025-26 Big Bash League playoffs will move into the Knockout stage as Hobart Hurricanes will face Melbourne Stars at Bellerive Oval, Hobart. Both teams will enter this match after solid league-stage campaigns, but the margin for error will be zero.
A loss will end the season immediately, while a win will keep the finals dream alive. The winner will progress to the Challenger and will face the winner of the Qualifier between Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers.
Hobart Hurricanes come into this game after finishing third on the points table, while Melbourne Stars finished fourth. The Stars will carry confidence from the earlier meeting this season, where they chased successfully against Hobart.
Recent form between these two sides suggests a close contest, with Stars winning 3 of the last 5 head-to-head games.
The two teams have met 22 times in completed BBL matches, with the Stars winning 14 matches and Hobart winning 8 games.
Melbourne Stars have 3 of the seasonโs top 5 wicket-takers and a deeper pace unit, which consistently takes wickets across powerplay, middle overs and death overs.
The betting tip is...
Top Bowlerโs Team - Melbourne Stars
63 %
37 %
Hobart HurricanesMelbourne StarsHobart Hurricanesโ batting unit looks settled. Mitchell Owen and Nikhil Chaudhary will provide starts at the top, with Chaudhary leading the scoring charts with 279 runs from 9 matches at a strike rate of 152.
Ben McDermott will continue his consistent run with 270 runs at 132, while Tim Ward will support the middle order with 177 runs at close to 140. McDermott will carry a strong record of 466 runs against the Stars.
The bowling attack will stay reliable. Nathan Ellis and Riley Meredith will share early responsibility with 23 wickets combined, while Chris Jordan will control the death overs. Rishad Hossain will manage spin duties with 13 wickets at an economy of 7.52. Ellis & Meredith have 13 and 20 past wickets vs the Stars.
Ellis, Meredith and Hossain are the key bowlers in the team.
Predicted Lineup: Mitchell Owen, Tim Ward, Beau Webster, Ben McDermott, Nikhil Chaudhary, Matthew Wade (wk), Rehan Ahmed, Chris Jordan, Nathan Ellis (c), Rishad Hossain, Riley Meredith
At the top, Sam Harper will remain the key batter. He will carry 371 runs from 9 matches at a strike rate of 155, which is the third-highest tally this season. His consistency will allow flexibility through the order.
The middle order will rely on Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell and Campbell Kellaway. Stoinis and Kellaway have contributed with 264 and 172 runs, while Maxwell will bring a strong record of 634 runs against Hobart, with Stoinis having 451 runs against them.
The bowling unit will look balanced. Haris Rauf and Peter Siddle will lead the pace attack with 34 wickets combined between them. Tom Curran and Stoinis will support them with 29 wickets, while Mitchell Swepson will handle spin duties with control.
Rauf, Siddle and Curran are the key bowlers in the team.
Predicted Lineup: Sam Harper (wk), Thomas Rogers, Joe Clarke, Campbell Kellaway, Marcus Stoinis (c), Hilton Cartwright, Glenn Maxwell, Tom Curran, Mitchell Swepson, Haris Rauf, Peter Siddle,
This Knockout match will likely be decided by the bowling units under pressure. Melbourne Stars will enter with a more consistent and deeper bowling attack. Haris Rauf and Peter Siddle will lead with pace and will already have 34 wickets between them this season.
Tom Curran and Marcus Stoinis will add strong support in the middle and death overs, with 29 wickets combined, while Mitchell Swepson will control the spin overs. 3 of the top 5 wicket-takers this season will belong to the Stars, which will give them an edge in tight moments.
Hobart Hurricanes will rely on Nathan Ellis, Riley Meredith and Rishad Hossain, but the Starsโ ability to take wickets in clusters will tilt the balance. In a knockout game, that depth should make the difference.
