The Hobart Hurricanes and the Melbourne Renegades are set to commence their Big Bash campaigns on Thursday night at Blundstone Arena. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the BBL match, starting from 7:40pm AEDT.
Both sides missed finals in BBL06 and will be eager to start the new season with a victory, as they push for a finals berth. Last time the two sides met it was an absolute run fest at Etihad Stadium!
The Renegades posted an imposing 4/222 before the Hurricanes chased it down, largely thanks to a swashbuckling century from Ben McDermott.
Another run fest is expected this time – batting is the strength of both sides and if there is a short square boundary, as often seen in the BBL at Blundstone Arena, expect plenty of boundaries.
One to watch
Ben McDermott is one to watch for the Hobart Hurricanes. After a blazing century in the fixture last BBL, all eyes will be on the young batter to see if he can repeat his heroics. Runs in BBL07 could see McDermott push for a berth in the Australian T20 side for the triangular series against England and New Zealand in February.
Tim Ludeman is one to watch for the Melbourne Renegades. The wicketkeeper has crossed from the Adelaide Strikers and could partner captain Aaron Finch at the top of the order. After relinquishing both Matthew Wade and Peter Nevill from their squad, Ludeman has a big job to impress with both the gloves and the bat.
Prediction
The Melbourne Renegades to win. Whether chasing or setting a total, the Renegades line up is full of experience and power. Finch, Hodge and White bring a lot of stability to their team and will be able to control the game with the bat.
Finch will be a key wicket at the top, if Finch falls cheaply than the Hurricanes will be right in the game. However, the Renegades should still be too strong because of their experience.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, from 7:40pm AEDT.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
That Summers guy looks like a bit like a chucker to me.
Dane Heverin
Roar Pro
MELBOURNE RENEGADES WIN BY 7 WICKETS The first away team to win in BBL07. Bravo the shining light with the ball (5/28). White 79 not out and Harris 50 guided the chase home for the Renegades. The Hurricanes unable to get any of their top order to go on and get a 50+ score, pushing their total to 180+ cost them the game. Jofra Archer extremely impressive in his BBL debut with 2/17. In the end, the experience of the Renegades got them over the line. Next up for the Renegades is the Brisbane Heat at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night (23 December). While, the Hurricanes take on the Sydney Thunder at Blundstone Arena (30 December). Thank you for joining The Roar for this live coverage of the BBL: Hobart Hurricanes v Melbourne Renegades. Be sure to join The Roar tomorrow for our live coverage of the BBL: Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Thunder from 7:40pm AEDT.
Dane Heverin
Roar Pro
OVERS 18.3 MELBOURNE RENEGADES 3/165 TARGET 165 Boyce on for his second over ONE White whacks it to deep cover SIX Hodge launches it onto the hill! The fan has hurt his hand and spilled his beer in an attempt to catch it! ONE - GAME OVER
Kangajets
Guest
I disagree. Cheers
Dane Heverin
Roar Pro
OVERS 18 MELBOURNE RENEGADES 3/157 TARGET 165 Archer to bowl his final over DOT Play and miss from White ONE Quick single from White, could have been interesting if Archer picked up cleanly! DOT Swing and a miss from Hodge this time ONE Hodge guides the ball to fine leg with a one handed pull shot ONE White pulls to fine leg DOT Good yorker from Archer to finish!
Dane Heverin
Roar Pro
OVERS 17 MELBOURNE RENEGADES 3/154 TARGET 165 Mills to bowl his final over FOUR Hodge blasts it through the covers for a boundary DOT A good bouncer beats Hodge! ONE Inside edge and White calls Hodge through for a quick single FOUR White hammers one over cover! Serious power from the Bear! ONE White just drops a slower ball for an easy single DOT Under edge from Hodge rolls through to Wade
Dane Heverin
Roar Pro
OVERS 16 MELBOURNE RENEGADES 3/144 TARGET 165 White 71(53) Hodge 9 (5) Christian back on to bowl FOUR White goes over cover to the short boundary and it just falls short of the rope! FOUR White whacks it to the point boundary ONE White works it to the leg side WIDE Too short from Christian as it sails over Hodge's head ONE Hodge smashes it to deep point ONE White whacks it to wide long off ONE Hodge tries to go fine but Wade manages to collect it
Dane Heverin
Roar Pro
OVERS 15 MELBOURNE RENEGADES 3/131 TARGET 165 Summer continues FOUR White lifts a short ball over short fine leg and gets a boundary ONE Pull shot to mid on by White DOT Brad Hodge evades a short ball to commence his innings SIX Biggest 6 of the night! Hodge gets off the mark with a big maximum onto the hill! WIDE Short slower ball just outside the wide lines ONE Inside edge rolls into the leg side from Hodge ONE White doesn't get a pull shot but it lands safe short of fine leg running around
Dane Heverin
Roar Pro
OVERS 14 MELBOURNE RENEGADES 3/117 TARGET 165 DOUBLE WICKET MAIDEN Archer back on DOT Harris get none of a pull shot to mid on WICKET Harris slogs but picks out the man in the deep. The partnership is finally broken! Harris caught Boyce bowled Archer 50(34) Tom Cooper the new man in DOT Good start to the new man from Archer DOT Archer beats the bat outside off DOT Cooper misses and gets hit on the thigh pad WICKET Cooper edges a pull shot and a good catch by Wade sees him gone! Cooper caught Wade bowled Archer 0(4)
Dane Heverin
Roar Pro
OVERS 13 MELBOURNE RENEGADES 1/117 TARGET 165 TWO White drives to long off ONE White rotating strike ONE Harris rotating strike also SIX - FIFTY White launches over mid wicket to bring up his half century ONE White works a single ONE - FIFTY Harris brings up his half century with a single
Dane Heverin
Roar Pro
OVERS 12 MELBOURNE RENEGADES 1/105 TARGET 165 Summers on for his second over ONE White works the short ball into the leg side WIDE Short and sprayed outside off ONE Harris runs the ball to third man ONE White controls a pull shot to deep square leg DOT Swing and a miss from Harris ONE - HUNDRED PARTNERSHIP Harris controls a pull shot to square leg and the hundred partnership comes up! ONE White drops the short ball into the off side for a quick single
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
As Dane points out, very crowded schedules for families leading up to Christmas and is more a TV thing now. The BBL's boon time as far as crowds go is more likely after Christmas.
Dane Heverin
Roar Pro
OVERS 11 MELBOURNE RENEGADES 1/99 TARGET 165 Mills back into the attack, searching for a wicket DOT Slower ball outside off beats Harris ONE Good bouncer! The top edge from Harris lands safe though ONE White hits to mid off ONE Harris gets another single TWO White goes aerial down the ground but doesn't get all of it ONE White drops and runs
Dane Heverin
Roar Pro
OVERS 10 MELBOURNE RENEGADES 1/93 TARGET 165 Short into the attack FOUR White places the short ball nicely through the off side from the back foot FOUR A repeat of the ball above from both batter and bowler ONE White punches into the covers ONE Harris carves through the off side for a single DOT White punches to cover DOT White blocks
Dane Heverin
Roar Pro
OVERS 9 MELBOURNE RENEGADES 1/83 TARGET 165 White 29(31) Harris 43(23) Christian into the attack DOT White bunts back to Christian ONE - LEG BYE Off the pad White and Harris call him through for a good single FOUR Harris edges and just beats a big dive from Wade, lucky! ONE Harris pulls to deep backward square ONE White flicks to the leg side FOUR Harris gets the low full toss past point to the short boundary
Dane Heverin
Roar Pro
OVERS 8 MELBOURNE RENEGADES 1/72 TARGET 165 Boyce into the attack DOT Good start from the leggie ONE White works to the leg side SIX Short from Boyce and Harris dispatches it over the short boundary! ONE Harris cuts for one ONE White comes down the wicket and works into the leg side for a single DOT Harris plays and misses at the wrong un, good take by Wade
Kangajets
Guest
bbl Getting stale already. Plus the ashes has served up enough cricket so far which accounts for the poor crowds at bbl
Dane Heverin
Roar Pro
OVERS 7 MELBOURNE RENEGADES 1/63 TARGET 165 White 26(24) Harris 27(17) Summers into the attack! DOT White pushes to cover DOT Short and wide but White misses the pull shot WIDE Short slower ball slides down the leg side DOT White blocks to mid wicket and there's a MISSED RUN OUT at the bowler's end NO BALL ONE White top edges the short ball and it lands safely after Summers made contact with the stumps in his delivery stride FREE HIT - ONE Harris mis-hits over cover SIX White makes the most of the short boundary. Whacks it over mid wicket! The first maximum of the Renegades innings ONE White runs it down to third man
Kangajets
Guest
Lots of empty seats at spotless. I think they fudged that figure
Dane Heverin
Roar Pro
OVERS 6 MELBOURNE RENEGADES 1/52 TARGET 165 Archer's second over to conclude the powerplay DOT Beats the bat of White and it flies through to Wade ONE White runs it off the face of the bat from a good length to third man ONE Harris gets it to square leg for a comfortable single WIDE Archer pushes the ball down the leg side ONE White flicks to short fine leg ONE Harris works a slower ball into the leg side ONE White gets none of the pull shot but they scamper through for a single