End of work Major League Soccer 2025-26 has arrived. It’s a win or go home scenario as defending champions at Bellerive Oval (Ninja Stadium), The Hobart Hurricaneshosted by Melbourne Stars in the knockout final.
The Hurricanes finished the regular season in 3rd place, but enter this clash with significant personnel losses. Meanwhile, the Stars (4th) arrive with a full strength squad looking to settle the score after Hobart’s dominance in recent years.
A big blow to the hosts, the regular skipper and the death-bowling specialist Nathan Ellis He was sidelined due to an injury against the Heat. Ben McDermott takes the reins. The Hurricanes also lose the services of the English sensation Rehan Ahmed (international duty) and Jake Weatherald. Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain has been a revelation this season and will have to lead the spin department in Rehan’s absence. Beau WebsterThe former All-Star was in top form against his old team, offering a dual threat with his towering height and mid-range strength.
Unlike their rivals, the Stars have announced an unchanged 14-man squad. They ride high in the form Haris Rauf and Peter Siddlecombining for 34 wickets this season. During the Big Show Glenn Maxwell had a quiet tournament by his standards, he remains the most dangerous player on the field in high-pressure knockout games. Sam Harper, Currently 3rd in the Golden Bat leaderboard, his explosive starts could take the game away from Hobart in the Powerplay.
HH vs MS, BBL|15 Knockout: Match details
- Date and Time: January 21 (Wednesday); 02:00 IST / 8:30 GMT / 19:30 Local
- Location: Bellerive Oval, Hobart
HH vs MS head to head record in BBL
Matches played: 23 | Melbourne Stars won: 15 | Hobart Hurricanes won: 08 | No Results/Closed: 0
Bellerive Oval Pitch Report
For this Knockout clash, the Bellerive Oval pitch is expected to be a balanced surface offering something for everyone. Historically, this is a suitable deck for batting where the ball comes into the bat beautifully, as evidenced by the first innings average of 174 in recent BBL outings. However, the evening sea breeze in Hobart usually helps those playing the new ball with a quick swing and movement. While pacers find joy in the extra bounce and carry, the surface can slow down as the game progresses, making variations and slower balls essential. The spinners may struggle for the innings but the dew could be the deciding factor for the second bowling.
Teams:
Melbourne Stars: Thomas Fraser Rogers, Sam Harper (wk), Joe Clarke, Campbell Kellaway, Marcus Stoinis (w), Hilton Cartwright, Glenn Maxwell, Tom Curran, Mitchell Swepson, Harris Rauf, Peter Siddle, Liam Hatcher, Blake McDonald, Hamish McKenzie
Hobart Hurricanes: Tim Ward, Mitchell Owen, Beau Webster, Ben McDermott (c), Nikhil Chaudhary, Matthew Wade (week), Chris Jordan, Jackson Bird, Rishad Hossain, Riley Meredith, Billy Stanlake, Will Prestwidge, Charlie Wakim, Macalister Wright
Also READ: Tactical Genius or Team Friction? Mitchell Starc stars in Steve Smith-Babar Azam drama in BBL|15
HH vs MS, BBL|15 Knockout: Today’s Match Prediction
Case 1:
- Melbourne Stars go first in the toss
- Hobart Hurricanes power play score: 50-60
- Hobart Hurricanes Total Score: 180-190
Case 2:
- Hobart Hurricanes go first in the toss
- Melbourne Stars power play score: 40-50
- Melbourne Stars Total Score: 160-170
Match result: The team batting second to win the competition.
Also READ: Finn Allen’s fiery century helps Perth Scorchers to victory over Melbourne Renegades in BBL|15.
