The second half of the Big Bash League double header on Sunday also comes from the Blundstone Arena in Hobart and sees the last two champions colliding when the current holders Sydney Sixers take on the side they took the title off last year in the Melbourne Renegades.
These two sides have opened their campaigns in very different ways with the Renegades winning their opening match while the Sixers threw away a winning position to spurn a golden chance to start their title defence with a win.
Sydney Sixers
The Sydney Sixers will have been gutted with themselves after their first match. I say that because they were twice in complete control of the contest only to fall a little foul of not exploiting the new rules properly but also not being ruthless to convert those great moments into victory. That is unlike them because they are a champion side who usually don’t let an opponent back in when they have them where they want them so it will be interesting to see how they respond here.
The Sixers went into the competition looking a little light on out and out batsmen and that weakness was immediately exposed in their opening match. They do have a few all-rounders that they could use in a bit of a pinch hitting role especially around the time of the power surge overs so it will be interesting to see if they go down that route or not. The positive from the first game is their bowling looked decent enough in the main.
Melbourne Renegades
When it comes to laying down a marker for a campaign ahead the Melbourne Renegades did that perfectly in their opening match against the Perth Scorchers which they were in complete control of from start to finish and never looked like getting into difficulty. If you think there is likely to be some natural progression to come from them when rust is shaken off and quarantined players are available, things are looking pretty good for the Renegades already.
The Renegades set up their win over the Scorchers with a wonderful bowling and fielding display, getting wickets early on in the powerplay, something they struggled to do last season, and then keeping the foot on the pedal. Targets of 130 are nothing to this Renegades side with the batting strength that they have and it might be ominous for the rest of the competition that their big two started firing immediately.
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Team News
The Sydney Sixers remain without Moises Henriques who is still away with Australia A while Jake Ball hasn’t arrived to begin his overseas stint just yet so the defending champions could name an unchanged side despite losing their opening game.
Melbourne Renegades are not likely to get anyone back in their ranks in the 20 or so hours they would have had between the win over the Perth Scorchers and this one so it would be a surprise if they are not unchanged as well.
Betting
The runs line for this match is up at 334.5 which feels a little on the high side. While I get that this is a high scoring ground this will be at least the second match on this pitch but you’ve got to think in essence it will be the third because it is hard to believe they’ll have prepared a different pitch to the one the late game was played on during the Saturday double header. That means it is likely to slow up and get a little harder to bat on.
Even if it doesn’t both these bowling attacks have a number of overs of spin or pace off the ball bowling in their ranks that could make scoring difficult. Both teams have wicket takers with the new ball as well which you feel is important. Unless the Renegades bat first and Aaron Finch has a day out I don’t see this being a high scoring game and if this line is challenged I certainly don’t think it will be blitzed. Given the likely wear in the track and Australians generally being poor at playing spin I’ll take the under here.
Tips
WON – Back Under 334.5 runs for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
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