There are not many dead rubbers in the Big Bash League but we have one on Tuesday when the Sydney Sixers finish their season with a home match against the Melbourne Stars at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Both sides saw their hopes of extending their season into the play-offs ended weeks ago. Sydney Sixers have kicked on though despite that whereas the Melbourne Stars have remained in a slump.
Sydney Sixers
The Sixers must be wishing they could go back in time and have their first six matches again. They lost the lot and in truth were not competitive in many of them but they have won their last three and actually look one of the best teams in the competition. It is too late for them now of course but it bodes well for them looking ahead.
The reason for their success in these last three matches has been their bowling attack. In those games they have kept the opposition to 156/6, 128/7 and 73 all out and those kind of scores are likely to be chased down by a batting line up which has the quality that theirs does. They will want to end their season in style.
Melbourne Stars
You would have got good money if you had bet that eight matches into the campaign the Melbourne Stars would have just one win to their names but that is very much the case. This has been a shocking campaign for the Stars and one which you think will have serious ramifications for their future.
They have not really done anything right this season. They have been ordinary at best with the bat the odd cameo aside and with the ball they have been awful. At no stage watching them this season have you thought they have built pressure on the opposition. You get the feeling a significant overhaul is required in the close season.
Team News
It comes as no surprise that the Sydney Sixers have named an unchanged squad for this match and all things being equal they will go into battle with the exact same line up.
Melbourne Stars have made a couple of changes to their squad with Rob Quiney and Michael Beer coming into the squad. You would expect Beer to play given the nature of this wicket. Whether Quiney comes in remains to be seen.
[the_ad_group id=”3624″]
Betting
I think the Sixers will win this match but they are a little short for my liking especially in what is realistically a dead rubber. With that in mind I will head for the side markets for a bet on the match with the player performances the one area I like.
The bet I like is the performance for Nathan Lyon. I mentioned in the previous game how Melbourne Stars struggle against spin and Chris Green bagged two wickets against them in that match. Prior to that Lyon took three wickets against the Stars so a line of 25.5 is very much on the low side. He could easily take two wickets here but a catch and a wicket will do so I’m on the over.
Tips
Back N.Lyon’s Performance – Over 25.5pts for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Paddy Power
Back it here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2018
