The second half of the double header of action in the Big Bash League on Saturday comes from Optus Stadium as the Perth Scorchers take on the Brisbane Heat in what is a big match for both teams and their playoff credentials.
Successive wins have moved the Heat up to third in the table and fully in control of their own destiny but there are a queue of teams looking to get past them and the Scorchers are one of them so there is plenty on the line here.
Perth Scorchers
After a tricky opening to their season, the former champions have won two of their last three matches, a run which began with a win over the Brisbane Heat and they will be looking to back that up here. If they are able to do that they will go level on points with the Heat and put their destiny in their own control. If they are to get that win then they will need their bowling to step up to the mark a little better than it has done thus far.
The positive for the Scorchers is that they have batted very well so far this season. That is going to need to continue if they are going to make it into the playoffs and beyond, but there is no sign of it slowing down and that is a positive. There are a lot of good bowlers in their ranks so you would think it is only a matter of time before that department comes good for them. If and when it does the Scorchers will be dangerous.
Brisbane Heat
The Heat go into this match in good form having won their last three matches. They haven’t just won them but they have won them with a lot left in the tank as well so they are suddenly a team in form. You can pick holes in their approach still but what you can’t criticise them for is winning matches. We often see that it becomes a habit so they should be heading west with their confidence and belief sky high.
Clearly the Heat are a side who ride the wave of their powerful batting but as the season is going on their bowling is coming to the party a lot more, especially when they are in the field second and are defending an enormous score as they have done a couple of times recently. It is slowly clicking into place nicely and with AB de Villiers waiting in the wings you would have to think that the Heat are only going to get better.
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Team News
The Perth Scorchers have been forced into a change for this match with Ashton Agar having departed for international duty. Liam Guthrie replaces him in the squad but it remains to be seen who lines up in his place.
James Pattinson has been mamed in the Brisbane Heat squad for the first time and he is expected to feature here. Tom Banton and Zahir Khan play their last match of the tournament and will want to go out on a high.
Betting
I think the natural thing here is to expect the sixes to fly. These are two big hitting batting line ups getting to go up against two attacks that are competent but not the best and they get to do so on a small ground, especially straight down the ground, and on a wicket that has played very well for the most part this season. That all screams big hits and a lot of fun to me and that is exactly what I am expecting here.
The sixes line for this match is 12.5 but you’ve got to think that looks very low given the hitting power in both of these teams. Both of them only look to play one way and that is expansive and with a lot of power so I don’t see that line being high enough. In the last game here Hobart had Perth four down early on and this line was still covered with plenty in hand. If anything the Heat are an even bigger hitting side so I’m expecting more than a dozen sixes here.
Tips
WON – Back Over 12.5 sixes for a 5/10 stake at 1.91 with BetVictor
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