There is one match left in the Big Bash League in 2020 and it comes from the Adelaide Oval where the Adelaide Strikers see the New Year in with a clash against the Perth Scorchers in their traditional New Year’s Eve fixture.
These two met earlier in the week when the Strikers prevailed as comfortable winners at this very venue so it will be interesting to see if the Scorchers have learned anything from that loss or whether the Strikers pick up a quick double.
Adelaide Strikers
After a bit of a slow start to the season, the Adelaide Strikers look like they are slowly warming to the task and have won their last two matches in pretty emphatic style. Only their latest win over the Scorchers looks comprehensive on the scoreboard but their win prior to that was equally as comfortable and only a late flurry from the Brisbane Heat made it look competitive. The Strikers start their official home schedule in this match and begin it in good form.
The success of the Strikers has very much been through their bowling attack. Peter Siddle is one of the leading wicket takers in the competition and there is still a case to be made that Rashid Khan is the best bowler in the tournament. If the Strikers can start to really fire with the bat then they are going to be a dangerous opponent. That batting does look a little light in terms of depth though so it is an issue that could linger.
Perth Scorchers
It is a little early in the season to be calling matches do or die but I think this is a huge match for the Perth Scorchers. To say they haven’t got started this season is an understatement. They have lost their three completed matches and you would have to say they haven’t really been in any of them at any point. If the alarm bells aren’t ringing within the Scorchers hierarchy it would be a huge surprise. They could argue at first that they were waiting for key men to become available but that excuse isn’t on offer for them anymore.
The Scorchers go into this match bottom of the pile and with the top five getting away from them in the table they are going to need to turn their campaign around beginning here. The problem they have got is neither of their units are firing. Their bowling is showing signs of improvement but even with three overseas batsmen in their ranks their batting has been awful so far. That is the thing which really needs to change if they are going to resurrect their season.
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Team News
The Adelaide Strikers have named the same squad as the reverse fixture earlier in the week and with Rashid Khan having proved his fitness during that match it would be a surprise if there are any changes to their line-up.
After such a comprehensive defeat here earlier in the week changes have to be made by the Perth Scorchers. Sam Whiteman and Cameron Bancroft are waiting for a batting role while Joel Paris may well get a bowling berth.
Betting
These two sides are going in very different directions and given how easily the Adelaide Strikers won the reverse meeting between these two here earlier in the week I’m more than a little surprised that they are not a good deal shorter for this match than they actually are. There were some strong words said by the Scorchers coach Adam Voges after that defeat earlier in the week so a reaction to that backlash should be expected but we saw on Monday that Adelaide have a huge advantage of knowing the conditions and dimensions of the ground.
You would have to think that the Scorchers will struggle to bat as badly again but it might be that the worst thing they did in the previous match was play Rashid Khan into form with the bat as that will lengthen their batting and give the established batsmen the freedom to go onto the attack. Ultimately though these matches are won by the better bowling attack and right now there is no doubt that Adelaide are performing much better in that department so my money is with them to bring the New Year in with a victory.
Tips
Back Adelaide Strikers to beat Perth Scorchers for a 3/10 stake at 1.91 with William Hill
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