The top two meet in the Big Bash League on Tuesday when the Melbourne Stars host the Brisbane Heat at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This is a big game for both sides as the winners will secure a spot in the semi-finals and will ensure they have home advantage in them too so there is all to play for here.
Melbourne Stars
It has been a good start to the New Year for the Stars. They have won their last three matches and had Eoin Morgan not hit a six off the final ball against the Sydney Thunder they would be perfect for 2017. That is a run which has taken them to the top of the table and on the edge of securing a semi-final spot.
One of the reasons for their success has been the wickets their bowlers have taken at the top of the innings. Melbourne Stars do lack a bit of depth in their batting line up but that has been combatted by the early wickets they have taken which have meant that opposition batsmen have had to rein in the big shots leaving the Stars with manageable run chases.
Brisbane Heat
After setting a trail at the top of the table for much of the campaign the Heat have been caught and overtaken now and need another win to make sure they go into the semi-finals. The power batting that served them so well at the beginning of the season is just starting to disappear which is a concern for them.
One area where the Heat have improved though is with the ball. Whether that is a confidence thing or an improvement in their skills I’m not sure but they are not conceding the really big scores any more. You would think they are going to have to bowl well if they are to win this match.
Team News
Melbourne Stars have recalled Seb Gotch and Sam Harper to their squad. Peter Handscomb has gone to join up with the Australia side so Harper will definitely come in for him. Adam Zampa has been released to play this match too.
Brisbane Heat will be without their captain Brendon McCullum as he is suspended for a poor overrate in their recent matches. Chris Lynn is away with Australia although he is injured now anyway so Brisbane miss their two best batsmen. Joe Burns will skipper the side for this game.
Betting
With McCullum and Lynn out I can’t see anything but a Melbourne Stars win here but this is T20 and we’ve had plenty of instances recently where a big innings somewhere has taken a game away from a side so I can’t be backing the Stars at heavy odds on.
In truth I don’t fancy an awful lot in this match but I’m happy to go with a couple of big priced player bets which have every chance of landing. The first one comes in the most sixes market where Rob Quiney looks overpriced at 5/1.
With Chris Lynn and Brendon McCullum out the top six hitter for the Heat is Alex Ross with six and four of them came in the first match of the season. Rob Quiney is the leading six hitter for the Stars this season despite missing two matches and he is showing no signs of reining himself in so if he can biff a couple over the ropes he might well land the goods.
Someone is going to stand up and score some runs for the Brisbane Heat in this match but with the Stars suddenly getting it right at the start of the innings it might not be anyone in the top order who does it. We’ve just seen Andrew Tye top score for Perth in the Stars’ last match and Ben Cutting could play a similar role for the Heat here. He usually bats at six but he might be a place higher than that given the absence of the star batsmen. At 17/1 he can’t be ruled out for a top scoring cameo.
Tips
Back R.Quiney to hit the most sixes for a 2/10 stake at 6.00 with Bet365
Back him here:
Back B.Cutting Top Brisbane Heat Batsman for a 1/10 stake at 18.00 with Paddy Power
Back him here:
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