The final match of the regular season in the Big Bash League is an extremely significant one as the last of the semi-final spots will be up for grabs when the Brisbane Heat face the Melbourne Renegades at the Gabba.
The result earlier in the day will have a bearing on this match but if the Hobart Hurricanes win that game then this is a straight shootout for the last spot with Brisbane needing to win by 42 runs or in the 15th over. Any other outcome will see the Renegades into the postseason.
Brisbane Heat
This has been a very ordinary campaign for the Brisbane Heat so far but if they can win by the necessary margin here and make it into the semi-final they might well be free rolling and who knows what might happen. They still have a daunting batting line up and they have a much improved bowling attack.
The problem has been the two units have not put the two facets together often enough this season and if they are going to have any chance of making the semi-final then that is something that is going to have to change here. They will need to bat at their best and they will definitely need to produce their best with the ball.
Melbourne Renegades
The Renegades have also been up and down this season but their win over the Sydney Thunder earlier in the week has probably made them the favourites to make it into the final four to battle it out for the title. They know if they do make it they will be on the road but just getting into the play-offs is their aim now.
I guess the big issue for Melbourne here is keeping their minds focused. If they go out with the intention of just doing enough to make it into the semi-finals they could easily come unstuck. If they have the mindset that they are going to win the match not only would they have a backdrop if they just failed but they would have a bit of confidence going into the last four if they do win the game.
Team News
The big news for the Brisbane Heat is that Chris Lynn is going to be available for them. He could be vital as they look for the necessary big score. Matt Renshaw is also in the squad with Jason Floros making way.
Melbourne Renegades have named an unchanged squad for this contest which means they are without Bradley Hodge once again. They are also without Cameron White who has remained on international duty.
[the_ad_group id=”3624″]
Betting
It is hard to bet on the match outcome of this one because the Melbourne Renegades don’t need to win and the Brisbane Heat need to win by so much that you wonder if their target passes before they win whether the air will come out of their balloon so to speak.
The obvious bet here is to back the sixes. To be fair a 13 line would be a good one to get stuck into on this ground regardless of the situation of the league table. We know the sixes flow regularly here but with Brisbane having to get going from the get go they will not be nudging singles for very long. They have five men in Lynn, McCullum, Ross, Burns and Cutting who can all belt a long ball while the Renegades are full of them too. 13 or more sixes is the bet here.
Tips
WON – Back 13 or more sixes for a 5/10 stake at 1.73 with Bet365
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2018
