The early lead in the Big Bash League table is on the line in the second match in the competition on Saturday when the Melbourne Renegades play host to the Brisbane Heat at the Etihad Stadium.
Both sides won their opening match so whoever comes out on top in this one will be the first side onto four points and they will take a significant stride towards getting the points they need to make the semi-finals.
Melbourne Renegades
It all looked like it could get a bit hairy for the Melbourne Renegades in their opening match when they lost their captain second ball chasing down a moderate total but their experience with the bat came to the fore and in the end they ended up putting down a significant marker with a performance which will make every side take notice.
I don’t think there was ever an issue about the Renegades with the bat but in previous seasons they have had issues with the ball but that didn’t show up in Hobart. They bowled very well with plenty of changes of pace and they had a good mix of seam and spin. The longer their bowling innings went on the harder the Hurricanes found them to hit.
Brisbane Heat
When Chris Lynn was ruled out of the opening match of the season I think most judges feared for the Brisbane Heat in their first game against the Melbourne Stars but they didn’t miss the big hitter with the bat and they looked to have some nice options with the ball which will stand them in good stead for the competition.
Their bowling attack is arguably on a hiding to nothing in Brisbane where the wicket is so flat and offers them nothing so the test for them is to perfect away from the Gabba when they might find conditions more to their liking. It looks like we can take it for granted that they will go big with the bat wherever they play.
Team News
The Renegades have made a couple of changes to their squad with Jon Holland and Will Sutherland being added to the XI that played in Hobart. Chris Tremain has been left out.
Brisbane Heat have also made a couple of changes. Joe Burns has been left at home with Marnus Labuschagne replacing him while Cameron Gannon is in the squad too. Chris Lynn has also been named although he said the other night he doesn’t expect to be fit.
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Betting
I’m tempted to back the Brisbane Heat in this match but knowing how hard this ground is to defend I think I will wait until after the toss before I get involved in the outcome of it. There are two bets I like though.
The first of those is over 14.5 sixes. We got a juicy inside into the Heat’s mindset in their first match when Brendon McCullum suggested he wanted his side to carry on being aggressive throughout their batting innings and we saw with the Renegades that even when they were well on course to win they kept hitting sixes so I’m expecting both batting line ups to shine here. On a ground where the boundaries are very accessible down the ground I’m expecting a 14.5 line to be covered with the hitting talent on show here.
I also like the performance of Ben Cutting. We also heard McCullum say that Cutting will go in with eight or so overs to go when the Heat bat so he’ll have every chance to play himself in before launching his cameo. He is also likely to bowl and often fields in the key areas so he should always be in the game. His line is 34.5 which he covered with the bat in the first match and against the Renegades last year. With the chances of points coming in the field too I like the over here.
Tips
Back Over 14.5 sixes for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Coral
Back it here:
WON – Back B.Cutting’s Performance – Over 34.5pts for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
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