The penultimate match of the Big Bash League season is dubbed the Challenger, and it will determine who it will be to take on the Sydney Sixers in the final, when the Melbourne Stars play host to the Sydney Thunder for the remaining spot in Saturday’s showpiece on Thursday.
The Stars have already had one chance to make it through to the final, an opportunity they messed up, and now they have to see off a Thunder outfit who have already won two knockout games on the road to make it this far.
Melbourne Stars
This has been a season of two halves for the Melbourne Stars. The first 10 games or so of it while they were building up an unassailable lead in the regular campaign was brilliant. Yes there was room for improvement but they were going along nicely, but once that top spot was secured the wheels fell off and their place in the final, which once looked like being a formality, is now looking very fragile indeed.
Such was their dominance in the regular season, they knew they would have two chances to make the final, but they wouldn’t have wanted to rely on this second opportunity, but having failed to overcome the Sydney Sixers in the first of those chances that is the fate that has befallen them. They simply have to find their batting mojo once again and so it could be that nearly an entire week since their last match could be a blessing in disguise.
Sydney Thunder
If the Melbourne Stars are beginning to doubt themselves the Sydney Thunder should be arriving at the Melbourne Cricket Ground full of confidence having seen off two dangerous opponents on the road, and knowing that is the task that is in front of them once again here, if they are to set up an all Sydney final at the weekend. The big knowledge for the Thunder is that twice they have held themselves well under pressure.
The Thunder have largely ridden the wonderful form of Alex Hales with the bat, and there is still the feeling that if they are to go all the way in this tournament someone is going to need to stand up and be counted alongside him, while with the ball everyone is chipping in. They are avoiding having their huge over against them which can put them on the back foot and are largely looking in decent enough touch.
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Team News
Despite their loss to the Sydney Sixers last time out, the Melbourne Stars have named an unchanged squad for this semi-final. It might be that they choose to play the extra batsman as that area has suddenly fallen apart for them.
The Sydney Thunder are predictably unchanged in their squad for this outing and it would be quite a surprise if they don’t go in with the same XI that beat the Adelaide Strikers, unless there is a last-minute injury or illness.
Betting
If this match was earlier in the week I would have given the Melbourne Stars little chance of coming through it, but actually the few days to get over that loss to the Sydney Sixers and work out where they are going wrong and how to sort it makes me think they can come good again here. There is little doubt in my mind that the Stars are the better of the two teams, as evidenced by them winning both regular season matches against the Thunder quite comfortably.
The Sydney Thunder have gone well to make it this far but there are huge concerns over how they will go should Alex Hales fall early, especially if that is in a run chase of any size. There aren’t enough other batsmen in form for my liking and while the Stars have also struggled for runs, in Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell and Peter Handscomb they have three players for the big occasion. The form guide might not suggest it but I think the Stars will win this.
Tips
WON – Back Melbourne Stars to beat Sydney Thunder for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Coral
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