The Big Bash League heads back to Sydney on Thursday for a huge match for the postseason chasing Brisbane Heat when they go up against the Sydney Sixers at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The Sixers have known for a while that they are just playing to spoil some parties having long since been unable to make the semi-finals but the Heat are right in the mix for the play-offs but really have to win here to have any chance of making it.
Sydney Sixers
We all know by now that the Sydney Sixers lost their opening six matches this season but they do deserve some credit for having it in them to rebound and win their last two fixtures. You could argue that in the Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Stars they haven’t beaten much but they had plenty of spare on both occasions.
Getting some important players back has been really key for the Sixers and has contributed to their upturn in form. It is too late to extend their campaign beyond the 10 regular season matches but they can certainly build some positivity and some plans for next season which could be invaluable. They have the freedom to just play and entertain not too which makes them dangerous.
Brisbane Heat
It has been a real up and down season for the Brisbane Heat but they could have done without losing both their matches to their rivals for a semi-final spot in the Hobart Hurricanes. All of a sudden they are beginning to look a little light both in number and in plans and they are getting exposed as a result.
To be fair you have to say the Brisbane bowling has been a good surprise this season but they have suddenly started to struggle with the bat and if Brendon McCullum was to go early you really do worry about their ability to chase down any total that might be anything close to sizeable. They really need their big stars to stand up here.
Team News
Sydney Sixers are going in with an unchanged squad for this match and given how emphatically they have won their previous two matches I would imagine it will be the same team barring a late injury or development.
Brisbane Heat were already going to be without Chris Lynn and now Joe Burns has been ruled out of this match with injury. Marnus Labuschagne is expected to come in for him but the Heat really do look light with the bat. Jason Floros has been added to the squad.
[the_ad_group id=”3624″]
Betting
I fancied Sydney Sixers to win this match before the news broke about Joe Burns’ injury and I certainly like them now. Ben Cutting batted at five in the previous game for the Heat which is far too high and they don’t really have any other all-rounders to carry some of the batting load. That puts huge pressure and emphasis on Brendon McCullum.
Sydney Sixers have a great bowling attack to keep the Heat in check and with Moises Henriques back with the bat and Joe Denly coming in with some form as well as the return to form of Nic Maddinson I expect the men in magenta to take all the beating here.
Tips
WON – Back Sydney Sixers to beat Brisbane Heat for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Betfred
Back them here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2018
