SATURDAY'S dominant outing against Sydney Thunder has the potential to create the confidence and momentum to allow Hobart to have a major say in the finals of the Big Bash League.
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That's the belief of in-form strike bowler Doug Bollinger, who is preparing to return to his home turf for tonight's clash with the Sydney Sixers at the SCG.
``It looks like we're starting to hit our straps, with Dunky (Ben Dunk) hitting them well, and I feel like I'm bowling well and Hilfy is bowling well, so hopefully everything is snowballing towards a big finish,'' Bollinger said yesterday.
``The way that we won, trying to be dominant, was important. In Twenty20 cricket you only need one or two blokes to go well, either batting or bowling, and it can sort you out.''
Hobart put in its most complete performance of the competition against the Thunder, making 5-167 off the back of Dunk's record-breaking 96, and the bowling exploits of Ben Laughlin (3-8) and Cam Boyce (3-25) dismissing the visitors for 94 in 16.4 overs.
The 32-year-old, who has taken 85 T20 wickets at 24.80 in 79 career matches, said more of the same against the third-placed (before last night's Renegades-Thunder match) Sixers would be needed for the fourth-placed Hurricanes to stay on track for the semi-finals.
``(Against the Sixers) apart from trying not to go for heaps, for me it is about continuing to bowl well and competently and getting as many wickets as I can,'' said Bollinger, who has taken four wickets at 28.25 for the tournament.
``We'll just have to be confident out there, and play the way we did the other day against the Thunder and keep a steady ship, with everyone doing their bit.''
Bollinger, who was on stand-by during for his country during the Ashes, said ``having fun'' with his cricket had contributed to him being back in the frame for Australian selection.
``I've just been relaxed, got on with it and just had a lot of fun,'' he said.
``And in Hobart it has been a very relaxed crew and I've had a lot of fun with it.''
The Hurricanes have again named an unchanged squad, while the Sixers have welcomed back England batsman Michael Lumb from injury.
?fu1516?6pt UNIV INTO HELIOS; Starts in UNIV, breakback goes to helios, loops on breakbacks.?ps7?? HOBART: Tim Paine (c), Aiden Blizzard, Travis Birt, Doug Bollinger, Cameron Boyce, Ben Dunk, Evan Gulbis, Ben Hilfenhaus, Ben Laughlin, Shoaib Malik, Joe Mennie, Owais Shah, Jon Wells.
SYDNEY SIXERS: Steve Smith (c), Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Josh Lalor, Brett Lee, Michael Lumb, Nathan Lyon, Nic Maddinson, Marcus North, Stephen O'Keefe, Jordan Silk, Dan Smith.