The second half of the double header of action in the Big Bash League on Monday comes from Optus Stadium in Perth as the Perth Scorchers and the Sydney Thunder battle it out to keep their destiny in their own hands this season.
Both teams are in and around the playoff mix but with matches running out they will both be acutely aware that they can’t afford to lose if they are to maintain control of their fortunes. That should set up a very competitive game.
Perth Scorchers
The Perth Scorchers suffered a second straight defeat last time out and the worrying thing about it wasn’t that they lost to the Melbourne Stars, but for the second time in succession they didn’t bat overly well. If they are going to progress to the postseason, and go deep when they get there, you would think that they are going to need to find some form with the bat. If they don’t they could leave themselves extremely vulnerable.
We know the Scorchers bowling hasn’t been as reliable as it was over at the WACA and that has become a concern. The other thing we shouldn’t forget is the insane amount of travelling the Scorchers have been doing in recent times. It is probably that which has affected their play more than anything else in recent times. They don’t have to go on the road again for a while though which is a positive for them.
Sydney Thunder
The Thunder head across to Perth off the back of a much needed win in the Sydney Smash last time out, but it was a rain affected win so just how much confidence they can draw from that remains to be seen. They shouldn’t be too worried because they had done the job when they skittled the Sixers for next to nothing, and you wouldn’t have thought they would have fluffed their lines from there. In the end they were probably grateful there was enough balls to force a result.
The Thunder have generally bowled pretty well throughout the competition. The longer it has gone on the more their changes of pace and slow bowling options have come to the party, making them tough to beat although they have encountered more than their fair share of the rain, not that they will be complaining given what is going on in that part of the world. If they can bat well here they should be hard to beat again.
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Team News
The Perth Scorchers have made the one change to their squad for the match with Liam Guthrie returning to the fold. He comes in for the highly-rated Jaron Morgan who hasn’t really hit the ground running just yet.
The Sydney Thunder have named an unchanged squad for this match and you would imagine they will probably name the same side too unless Gurinder Sandhu is unable to do two matches in such a short space of time after his injury.
Betting
I don’t normally bet on the match outcome at this Perth ground but I’m going to do so here because I think the Sydney Thunder match up quite well to the Perth Scorchers. I’ve been slightly concerned about the Scorchers’ bowling throughout the tournament and nothing has really changed in that regard. I’ve had no such issues with the Thunder attack though I have to say and as I always say it is bowlers that win these matches.
The Scorchers probably have the edge with the bat but I’m not sure it is as much of one as they would need in this match. Even if they do have an edge they are a side who’ve put up 86 and 131/9 in their last two matches. That does nothing for the confidence of anyone and with Ashton Turner away the Scorchers are probably a batsman light. There are no such issues for the Thunder so I think they are the value here.
Tips
Back Sydney Thunder to beat Perth Scorchers for a 4/10 stake at 2.15 with Bet365
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