The BBL 2025 Knockout between Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Stars will take place at Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Wednesday. The Melbourne Stars secured their spot in the finals by defeating Adelaide by six wickets. Melbourne Stars' standout performer is Sam Harper, who has scored 371 runs in this tournament.

Despite their close three-run defeat to the Heat in their last league match, the Hurricanes have enough quality to make the finals if they deliver their best, even though they fell to third place. Nikhil Chaudhary was the leading run-getter, scoring 279 runs in nine innings with a strike rate of 150+.

Also Read: BBL 2025-26 Knockout: HUR vs STA head-to-head, pitch report & predicted playing XIs

HUR vs STA Match Details

• Match: Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Stars, Knockout 

• Date: 21st January 2026

• Time: 2.00 PM IST

• Venue: Bellerive Oval, Hobart

• Live Streaming: FanCode

HUR vs STA Weather Report

HUR vs STA Pitch Report

Fast bowlers will have the upper hand in the early overs. The pitch will become more favourable for batting as the game progresses.

Top Batters to Watch – HUR vs STA

• Sam Harper (STA): 371 runs in this tournament

• Nikhil Chaudhary (HUR): 279 runs in this tournament 

• Ben McDermott (HUR): 270 runs in this tournament 

Top Bowlers to Watch – HUR vs STA

• Haris Rauf (STA): 18 wickets in this tournament 

• Peter Siddle (STA): 16 wickets in this tournament 

• Rishad Hossain (HUR): 13 wickets in this tournament 

HUR vs STA Recent Form

HUR vs STA Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1: If STA Bat First

• Powerplay Score: 40–45

• Predicted Total: 160–170

• Match Result: HUR to win

Scenario 2: If HUR bats first

• Powerplay Score: 45–55

• Predicted Total: 165–180

• Match Result: HUR to win

Who Will Hit the Most Sixes?

Who Will Hit the Most Fours?

HUR vs STA Predicted Playing XIs

Hobart Hurricanes 

Mitchell Owen, Tim Ward, Beau Webster, Ben McDermott(c), Nikhil Chaudhary, Matthew Wade(w), Mac Wright, Chris Jordan, Jackson Bird, Rishad Hossain, Riley Meredith.

Melbourne Stars 

Sam Harper(w), Thomas Fraser Rogers, Campbell Kellaway, Blake Macdonald, Marcus Stoinis(c), Tom Curran, Hilton Cartwright, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Swepson, Haris Rauf, Peter Siddle

HUR vs STA Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win Today?

Based on current form, team balance, and superior bowling strength, the Hobart Hurricanes are the favourites to win this BBL match. Beau Webster, Ben McDermott and Mitchell Owen are expected to be the key performers.

HUR vs STA Match FAQs

The 28th BBL 2025 match between the Hobart Hurricanes and Adelaide Strikers will take place at Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Friday. The Adelaide Strikers' performance in the Big Bash League campaign has been inconsistent, with three wins and three defeats in their first six matches.

On the other hand, in BBL15, the Hobart Hurricanes have been completely dominant, winning five games and losing two to move up to the top of the ladder. As the schedule moves forward, the focus is now on maintaining a top-two position and securing a finals berth.

Also Read: HUR vs STR Dream11 Prediction Playing XI: Match 28, Big Bash League, 2025 Fantasy Cricket Tips, Team, and Pitch Report

HUR vs STR Match Details

• Match: Hobart Hurricanes vs Adelaide Strikers, 28th Match 

• Date: 9th January 2026

• Time: 1.45 PM IST

• Venue: Bellerive Oval, Hobart 

• Live Streaming: FanCode

HUR vs STR Weather Report

HUR vs STR Pitch Report

Bowlers who mix up their speeds and execute their plans during the middle phase can hinder runs, but batters who build an innings tend to see both sides of the wicket open up as things go on.

Top Batters to Watch – HUR vs STR

• Nikhil Chaudhary (HUR): 240 runs in this tournament 

• Ben McDermott (HUR): 193 runs in this tournament 

• Matthew Short (STR): 188 runs in this tournament 

Top Bowlers to Watch – HUR vs STR

• Lloyd Pope (STR): 10 wickets in this tournament 

• Nathan Ellis (HUR): 10 wickets in this tournament 

• Jamie Overton (STR): 9 wickets in this tournament 

HUR vs STR Recent Form

HUR vs STR Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1: If STR Bat First

• Powerplay Score: 40–45

• Predicted Total: 160–170

• Match Result: HUR to win

Scenario 2: If HUR Bat First

• Powerplay Score: 45–50

• Predicted Total: 175–190

• Match Result: HUR to win

Who Will Hit the Most Sixes?

Who Will Hit the Most Fours?

HUR vs STR Predicted Playing XIs

Hobart Hurricanes 

Mitchell Owen, Tim Ward, Nikhil Chaudhary, Ben McDermott, Matthew Wade(w), Rehan Ahmed, Chris Jordan, Will Prestwidge, Nathan Ellis(c), Rishad Hossain, Riley Meredith

Adelaide Strikers 

Matthew Short(c), Chris Lynn, Mackenzie Harvey(w), Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Harry Manenti, Jamie Overton, Jerrassis Wadia, Luke Wood, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lloyd Pope

HUR vs STR Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win Today?

Based on current form, team balance, and superior bowling strength, the Hobart Hurricanes are the favourites to win this BBL match. Mitchell Owen, Tim Ward and Nikhil Chaudhary are expected to be the key performers.

HUR vs STR Match FAQs

Matthew Wade forced the cricket fans to take a tour down memory lane as he took a terrific one-handed catch on Sunday during the Melbourne Renegades vs Hobart Hurricanes Big Bash League (BBL 2025-26) match at the Simonds Stadium in Geelong. 

Matthew Wade, now 37, claimed a catch behind the stumps like a flying hawk. A clutch moment of the game. The ongoing BBL season gifted cricket fans multiple high-scoring, thrilling matches. The Renegades vs. Hurricanes was not among those matches where runs were scored at a rapid pace. 

In the first innings of the match, pacers got some extra bounce from the track. Additionally, the variation of pace also worked for the Hobart Hurricanes bowlers, who were delivering during the first phase of the game. Experienced England pacer Chris Jordan was named as player of the match for his effective bowling performance. Jordan claimed 4 scalps against only 19 runs, which curved down the run rate of the opposite side. 

Read More: Shubman Gill set to return as captain in Vijay Hazare Trophy: Report

Watch the stunning catch taken by Matthew Wade in BBL 2025-26

What a stunner from Matthew Wade!! 😱#BBL15 pic.twitter.com/p4Jkn7Pzct

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) December 21, 2025

Despite some brilliant bowling displays, it was the veteran keeper Matthew Wade who stole the show. For the fifth delivery of the 13th over, Nathan Ellis produced a slower, back-of-the-length delivery against Oliver Peake.

Peake, a left-handed batter, went for a cut shot but, tricked by the slow pace, got an edge, which flew towards the keeper. The ball was about to fly over the keeper's head, but Wade had enough gas left in the tank to take a high jump and collected the ball safely using only one hand. Peake went for 14, and the Melbourne Renegades registered 145/9 batting first. Hobart Hurricanes eventually won the match by 7 wickets. 

Matthew Wade, the veteran Australia wicketkeeper-batter, announced his decision to retire from red-ball cricket. However, Wade, who postponed his arrival at the Indian Premier League (IPL) to take part in the Shield final with his home team Tasmania, informed his state teammates about his decision just before the clash against South Australia.

Matthew Wade can play in the T20 World Cup

“I would like to thank my family, my wife Julia, and kids Winter, Goldie, and Duke, for the sacrifices they have made throughout my career, as I travelled Australia and the world as a red-ball cricketer,” Wade said in a statement.

However, Matthew Wade will continue to play the white-ball format, and there is a chhance for him to represent Australia in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in June in the West Indies and USA. The veteran keeper-batter was named stand-in captain during the recent New Zealand series for the final T20I in Mitch Marsh’s absence and he led in the five-match T20I series against India last year after their Cricket World Cup win as well.

ALSO READ: Zaheer Khan shares MS Dhoni’s plans after IPL 2024

After winning the New Zealand T20I series 3-0, he also expressed his excitement to be part of the T20 World Cup squad as well.

“It’s an exciting time to be in the T20 squad, and I can’t wait to get started at the World Cup, to be honest,” Wade said.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed the challenges” – Matthew Wade

However, the 36-year-old was part of Australia’s squad that won the T20 World Cup in 2021, putting in a Player of the Match performance in the semi-final against Pakistan where he smashed 41* off 17 balls to help his side win. Notably, Matthew Wade made his debut for Australia in Tests in 2012, appearing in 36 matches between 2012 and 2021, scoring 1613 runs that also included four centuries.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed the challenges that the long-form game provides, and although I will continue to play white ball cricket, wearing the Baggy Green while playing for my country remains a highlight of my career. Not playing the longer format of the game will give me an opportunity to get stronger, get in the gym a bit more and have some longevity in that format,” Matthew Wade concluded.

Cricket Australia (CA) has unveiled a 14-player lineup for the impending five-match T20I series against India, which kicks off on November 23. In the wake of several senior players opting for a break, wicketkeeper-batter Matthew Wade has been named as the skipper for this series.

The roster boasts of seasoned cricketers including David Warner, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, and Adam Zampa. After their stint in the ICC World Cup 2023, players like Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Marsh, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood are set to head back home.

Taking the captaincy on a temporary basis, Matthew Wade steps into a role that has been vacant since February. Though he has been away from international cricket post the T20 World Cup, he was recalled as a backup for the series versus South Africa.

George Bailey notes Matthew Wade’s past captaincy experience for the team

Australian cricket team’s chief selector, George Bailey, emphasized Matthew Wade’s past captaincy stints and his leadership prowess. He compared this to Mitch Marsh leading the team in the series against South Africa.

“Matthew has previously held the captain’s mantle, and he’s a natural leader within our squad. Just as we saw with Mitch Marsh during the South Africa games, this series presents a valuable chance to expand our pool of leadership talent at the international level,” Bailey remarked.

The lineup for the series includes players such as Tim David, Sean Abbott, Josh Inglis, Jason Behrendorff, and Nathan Ellis. Meanwhile, Matt Short, Spencer Johnson, and Tanveer Sangha have maintained their positions. Unfortunately, Ashton Agar won’t be playing due to a calf injury.

Australia’s T20 Tour of India – Schedule:

• November 23: First T20 at Vishakhapatnam
• November 26: Second T20 at Thiruvananthapuram
• November 28: Third T20 at Guwahati
• December 1: Fourth T20 at Nagpur
• December 3: Fifth T20 at Hyderabad

Australia T20 Squad:

• Captain: Matthew Wade
• Players: Jason Behrendorff, Sean Abbott, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, and Adam Zampa.