There is one match left in the Big Bash League season which is not a straight knockout and it comes on Saturday when the Sydney Sixers take on the Perth Scorchers in the Qualifier, where the winners will shoot straight through to the final next weekend.
These two finished first and second in the regular table to earn themselves a second bite of the cherry if they need it with the losers hosting either the Sydney Thunder or the Brisbane Heat for the second spot in the final later in the final series.
Sydney Sixers
It looked like the Sydney Sixers had blown their chances of landing top spot when their bowlers produced a couple of very ordinary performances to see them slip away from the top spot which they had actually held for much of the campaign. They went into the final day needing the Perth Scorchers to lose and then to win themselves in order to be able to host this Qualifier. That is exactly what happened which might be significant come the end of this game.
The Sixers beat the Melbourne Stars but you couldn’t say their bowling improved much in that match and that is very much a concern for them heading into this game. They have the safety net if they lose here but they will want to be hosting the final so it would be welcomed if their bowling can come to the party here. Their batting is still getting the job done but the scoreboard pressure is intensified in a run chase now so whether they can rely on that remains to be seen.
Perth Scorchers
The Perth Scorchers went into their final match of the regular season with their home field advantage in their own destiny after a run of form which saw them surge up the table. They couldn’t get the job done when it mattered although I guess subconsciously they knew that they were finishing in the top two regardless so just how much we can criticise them for losing to the Brisbane Heat remains unsure. We should expect a much more dominant display from them here.
The Perth batsmen have probably been the most complete unit as a whole in the second half of the campaign and with a bowling attack that has no weakness it was a bit of a surprise that they coughed up the runs that they did in the game with the Heat, another thing that makes me think they subconsciously took their foot off the gas. The Scorchers have an incredible record in Perth so the chance to host the final there is a huge incentive for them to win this one.
Special Offer
Sign up for an account on the Betfair Exchange and get a free £20 risk free bet to use on the BBL! Click the image below to bet. 18+ T&Cs apply. New accounts only. Gamble Aware.
New customers only, bet up to £20 on the Exchange and if your first bet loses, we’ll refund you £20 in Cash. Bet must be placed in first 7 days of account opening. Click the above image to bet. T&Cs apply. Payment restrictions apply.
Team News
The Sydney Sixers will be picking from the same squad they have had for the last few matches after the SOS they sent out to Mitchell Starc went unanswered. Jackson Bird looks set to miss out with Jake Ball getting the final spot in the seam attack.
The Perth Scorchers are also selecting from the same squad which they have picked from throughout the competition. Mitch Marsh proved his fitness in the last game so they are likely to be unchanged despite the defeat.
Betting
I took the boundaries here when the two sides met on this ground in the regular season. I said then that the 37.5 line was probably one too high for what I would have preferred and that the price lured me in and the same thing has happened again here. There were 39 boundaries on that occasion in not the highest scoring game known to man so I’m slightly more confident in the over here. Even then I’m priced in I have to say.
I expect this to be higher scoring than that and I think there is scope for even more boundaries here. I say that because in that meeting Moises Henriques and Mitch Marsh never played while Ashton Turner and Josh Inglis never hit a boundary and Dan Christian only faced four balls. That makes me think the minimum that these two sides could hit is that 39. Since that match the Sydney bowling has completely lost its way so there is enough to be encouraged about with regards to the over.
Tips
WON – Back Over 37.5 boundaries for a 3/10 stake at 2.00 with William Hill
Back it here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2021
