Moises Henriques’s Sixers arrive full of confidence after a convincing six-wicket win over Melbourne Stars. The bowlers kept the opposition to a modest total and the batters completed the chase without fuss, but Hobart Hurricanes will be a far tougher test.
Babar Azam has not quite hit top gear yet and will want a solid start alongside Henriques. The middle order looks dangerous, with Josh Philippe, Steven Smith and Jordan Silk able to change a game in a few overs, and Sam Curran, Jack Edwards and Joel Davies adding late momentum. Ben Manenti and Sean Abbott need early wickets, while Ben Dwarshuis was outstanding last time and will again be asked to keep things tight.
Nathan Ellis’s Hurricanes are top of the table after a six-wicket victory over Sydney Thunder. The chase was composed, but the bowlers leaked runs, which Ellis wants fixed. Tim Ward hit a blistering knock in that game and will open with Mitchell Owen, with Ben McDermott, Rehan Ahmed and Nikhil Chaudhary in the middle order and Matthew Wade a dependable finisher. Will Prestwidge and Riley Meredith will aim to strike early, with Ellis and Rishad Hossain controlling the middle overs.