The last Big Bash League match of 2016 takes place on Saturday as those in Adelaide welcome in the New Year in style as the Adelaide Strikers host the Sydney Sixers in their traditional New Year’s Eve clash at the Adelaide Oval.
This is a massive match for the Strikers who have lost their opening two matches and a third defeat would leave them struggling for the semi-finals. The Sixers have two wins and a defeat from three matches and a win here has them in a very strong position.
Adelaide Strikers
In fairness to Adelaide you have to accept they haven’t had much luck in the tournament so far. They looked to be cruising to a high scoring win in the opening match against the Brisbane Heat but some amazing captaincy from McCullum turned that around and they ran into the eye of a storm in Perth in their second match.
The one area where Adelaide must improve if they are to get anything out of the tournament is with the ball. Not one of their main seamers have an economy rate of less than 8.50 an over and that just puts far too much pressure on a batting line up which it could be argued is a batsman light anyway.
Sydney Sixers
Sydney won their first match of the tournament and they thrashed the Perth Scorchers last time out but suffered a surprising defeat to the Hobart Hurricanes in between. That defeat will be forgotten if they can win this match as they would put themselves well on course for a place in the top four come the end of the season.
A little like the Strikers, the Sixers’ seamers have been expensive. None of their seamers have economy rates under 8.5 runs an over either and had it not been for their quality spinners you do wonder just how well they would be going. The seamers need to stand up to the mark if the Sixers are to go deep in this tournament.
Team News
Adelaide will be without Kane Richardson for this match as he has been ruled out for a few weeks with an injury. Ben Laughlin is likely to replace him. Jono Dean could come into the side too.
The Sixers will be without Stephen O’Keefe as he has been called up for the Australian Test squad. Nic Maddinson was dropped from that squad and although he hasn’t officially been named in the squad for game he could turn up and play.
Betting
As ever with matches at the Adelaide Oval I’m not betting on the match result. We saw why in this fixture last year when Adelaide came from the dead to knock off the Sixers in an epic run chase. This ground is just near enough impossible to defend especially if the straight boundaries are in again like they were for the first match here and with a women’s match on the ground earlier in the day you would think they may well be.
There were 19 sixes in that corresponding match last year and the straight boundaries were back then so we should really see a dozen here at least given how expensive the bowling attacks of the two have been and if the boundaries have been brought in again we’ll sail well past 12.
Tips
Back 12 or more sixes for a 5/10 stake at 1.80 with Bet365
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