Hobart Hurricanes vs. Brisbane Heat – Big Bash League, December 30, 2020

Brisbane picked up their first win of the season on Sunday, beating Hobart by four wickets. On Wednesday, December 30, the two sides clash again at the Gabba.

Having won three of their five BBL 10 games, the Hurricanes currently sit six points ahead of the Heat in the table. Can the Tasmanians gain their revenge over the Queenslanders?

After checking out the bookmakers’ odds, I provide my Hobart Hurricanes vs. Brisbane Heat prediction and betting pick.

Brisbane (2.30) may have beaten Hobart (1.54) just days ago, yet the top online betting sites clearly think that the Hurricanes have the upper hand this time around.

The bookmakers’ prices have been very tight throughout the early stages of BBL 10, but the odds gap for this matchup seems to be a lot bigger than in previous matches.

The Hurricanes kicked things off with back-to-back victories over the Sixers and the Strikers before Adelaide gained their revenge in their third outing. However, Hobart swiftly returned to winning ways against the Renegades.

But the Tasmanians suffered their second defeat of the season last time out, with Brisbane securing a four-wicket victory.

Dawid Malan – the number-one ranked T20 batsman in the world – made his debut for the Canes, although he could only manage 15 runs. D’Arcy Short top-scored with 27, but Hobart ultimately failed with the bat.

Short was also the Hurricanes’ main threat with the ball, taking 3/18. But the Heat chased down their target with 16 balls to spare.

Still, Hobart has three players – Colin Ingram, Ben McDermott, and Tim David – in the top ten run-scorers this season, as well as two bowlers among the top ten wicket-takers – James Faulkner and Riley Meredith.

ABSURD!

D'Arcy Short, are you kidding?! #BBL10 pic.twitter.com/4AJlMXYB7L

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 27, 2020

It’s safe to say that Brisbane’s BBL 10 campaign could not have started any worse. Indeed, three straight defeats to the Stars, the Thunder, and the Strikers saw the club drop to the bottom of the standings.

But the Heat will be heading into their fifth match with a bit more belief after beating in-form Hobart last time out.

Sam Heazlett (48), James Bazley (31), and Max Bryant (31) got their team over the line following single-figure scores from much of the top and middle order. Jimmy Peirson also finished on 16*.

Englishman Lewis Gregory claimed figures of 3/22 from his four overs, giving Darren Lehmann’s side a solid platform to build on. However, Brisbane has struggled for wickets so far this term, so their bowlers must start chipping in more frequently.

Given their unpredictable start to the season, it is difficult to gauge what kind of performance the Heat will produce on Wednesday.

Sure, the Heat beat the Canes last time out. But it was by no means a convincing performance. That game could have gone either way, so I’m backing Hobart to win this time around.

The Hurricanes have been far more convincing than Brisbane so far this season. Having taken everything into consideration, I’m expecting the Tasmanians to bounce back with a win on Wednesday.