Two of the best sides in the Big Bash League do battle in what promises to be a cracking contest on Friday when the Brisbane Heat host the champions Perth Scorchers in a match which could yet be repeated in the postseason down the line.
Brisbane Heat go into the match in fourth in the table but they will move level on points with the Perth Scorchers with a win. The Scorchers still have a 100% record and will be out to maintain that in this one.
Brisbane Heat
It has been an up and down first half of the campaign for the Brisbane Heat. They have won three matches but have been made to work hard for all three perhaps with the exception of their latest one and they have lost two and in truth they have been well beaten in both of them so when they are good they are generally pretty good but when they are off they are very poor.
In seasons gone by the Brisbane Heat batting has been awesome and their bowling has been their weak link but if anything it has been the other way around this year although the move to push Chris Lynn up to open the batting worked a treat in Melbourne last time out. They will hope that is the catalyst for some consistent form.
Perth Scorchers
The defending champions have played typical Perth Scorchers cricket so far in the tournament. They haven’t always been dazzling with the bat although there is no doubt they are improving in that discipline but as ever with the ball they have been miserly and very hard to get away. The result of that is they have won all four of their matches thus far.
The really amazing thing about the form of the Scorchers this year is the number of absences they have. It just shows the strength in depth that they have and that the formula they have put together works no matter who is called upon to implement it. A win for the Scorchers here would have them a win or two away from another semi-final.
Team News
Brisbane Heat have made one change to their squad for this match with Josh Lalor ruled out through injury. Marnus Labuschagne comes into the squad in his place but may not be included in the starting XI.
Perth Scorchers will be forced into one change with Mitchell Johnson sitting this match having been rested. Joel Paris has replaced him in the squad but it could be Ashton Agar who replaces him in the side having returned from Australia duty.
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Betting
If Mitchell Johnson was around I might have chanced the Perth Scorchers here but even though the likes of Jhye Richardson, David Willey and Andrew Tye are all great bowlers I’m not convinced enough that Brendon McCullum and Chris Lynn will fear them too much.
With that in mind I’m inclined to head towards the sixes market where the 12.5 line looks a little on the low side. Perth Scorchers don’t hit many sixes as a rule but we saw against the Sydney Sixers on New Year’s Day that they have big hits in them but in truth if Chris Lynn gets going like he did in Perth last year and to a lesser extent in Melbourne last time out we might not need many Perth sixes anyway. The absence of Johnson changes the dynamic of this match so I expect the big hits to come regularly.
Tips
WON – Back Over 12.5 sixes for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with William Hill
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