Big Bash Match Previews & Tips – 30th & 31st January (Qualifier and Knockout Finals)

The two stand out teams of the regular season meet tonight for a chance to go through to this years final.

The Sixers secured top spot on the table with a win over the Melbourne Stars on Tuesday night.  It was an important win, coming off the back of two losses, to give themselves some momentum/confidence heading into the pointy end of the season and to avoid traveling to the West.

The Sixers have built their season around an experienced bowling line up which has only been bolstered in recent weeks by the return of Sean Abbot.  Their batting has looked a little thin at times however looks much better now that Moses Henrqiues is back from national duty.  Josh Phillipee has been a stand out at the top of the order and the Scorchers will be desperate to secure his wicket early.

After a poor start to BBL 10 the Scorchers won eight of their last ten games to finish second on the ladder.  They are a team with supreme top end talent and very little weakness.  In fact five of the 18 members of the upcoming Australia T20 touring party of New Zealand are listed with the Scorchers.  Phillipee is the only Sixer.

The Scorchers are my pick tonight but the $1.80 on offer away from Perth is not of interest.  With the pressure of finals and the somewhat streaky nature of the Scorchers top three I think there is an opportunity to back some of their middle order players in the most runs market instead.  Turner and Marsh in particular seem huge odds.  (See strategy below).   I am also keen to back Moses Henriques most runs for the Sixers who is in good form.

After a win against the Strikers on Friday night, the Brisbane Heat head to Canberra on Sunday to play the Sydney Thunder in another knock out final.

Despite losing the toss and being asked to bowl first the Heat were far too good for Adelaide.  I was impressed with their ability to bowl lots of dot balls to the likes of Carey and Head which built pressure.  This was backed up in the field with the important run out of Jake Weatherald by Marnus Labauschagne and a superb catch from Ben Laughlin.  The Strikers total of 130, despite a couple of early wickets, was never going to be enough.  The Heat chasing the runs four wickets down in the end.

Sydney Thunder have had another very good season and will fancy their chances to win this years competition.  Their batting has a good mix of both class and power and features the leading run scorer in the competition Alex Hales.  Whilst the addition of quick Adam Milne and young leg spinner Tanveer Sangha have been vital to their bowling efforts.

The Thunder are sweating on the availability of their striker bowler Daniel Sams who has missed the last three matches with injury.  Sams also has the ability to clear the fence at the back end of the batting innings so is a crucial cog in their wheel.

Assuming that Sams is right to play, I fancy the Thunder to take care of the Heat here.  They have a more dynamic batting order and gain a huge advantage playing at Manuka Oval.

Sydney Sixers v Perth Scorchers

• .75 Unit | Mitch Marsh Most Runs Perth Scorchers @ $7.50 (Sportsbet)
• .75 Unit | Josh Inglis Most Runs Perth Scorchers @ $5.5 (Sportsbet)
• .5 Unit | Ashton Turner Most Runs Perth Scorchers @ $13 (Sportsbet)

• 1 Unit | Moses Henriques Most Runs Sydney Sixers @ $4.50 (Sportsbet)

Sydney Thunder v Brisbane Heat – 2 Units | Sydney Thunder @ $1.75 (Sportsbet)

Starting Bank: 100 Units

Current Bank:  89.67 Units

*Please note the maximum outlay on a single outcome is 2.5 units