There is a double header of action in the Big Bash League on Monday and with the end of the regular season in sight every match is beginning to carry some extra significance for those who are fighting for places in the playoffs.
The first match of the two on Monday sees one of the teams battling for a playoff spot in action when the Adelaide Strikers host the Sydney Sixers at the Adelaide Oval in a game the home side can’t afford to lose.
Adelaide Strikers
The equation for the Adelaide Strikers is a pretty simple one. If they win this match they will be into the playoffs. If they don’t win this game then they will be sitting ducks and having to rely on other results to go their way in order to make it into the finals. Win and they are in but lose and they will be gone if the Hobart Hurricanes beat the Melbourne Renegades and then lose to the Melbourne Stars, a set of results which isn’t out of the equation.
The Adelaide Strikers have come good at just the right time. They needed at least three wins from their last four matches and they have won the first three of those to soar into fourth spot in the table. That run of results has left them on the edge of making it into the finals. Their bowlers have been awesome in these three matches, restricting sides to no more than 132/8 in that period. That is helping their batting by completely taking the pressure off them.
Sydney Sixers
The Sydney Sixers will as good as secure second place in the table in this match if they win it. They will have their destiny in their own hands if they just claim the bonus point but they probably have the tougher of the two Sydney sides in the final game of the season so that might be significant. That means they would strongly like to get the job done in this match and then they can rest players who are carrying niggles on Wednesday should they wish.
The Sixers are in this position because of their win over the Sydney Thunder in the Sydney Smash on Saturday. They were always in control of that match although if you wanted to be pick you could argue that they weren’t overly ruthless when they had the Thunder right under the pump. It was never going to make any difference though but it was good for them to have their batters come to the party once again. That is the key to overall success for them from here on in.
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Team News
As you would expect having finally found their form again, the Adelaide Strikers have named an unchanged squad for this match and it would be a surprise if they make any switches to the starting XI.
The Sydney Sixers have made one change to their side from the team which beat the Sydney Thunder the other night. Justin Avendano is back in the squad as a replacement for Jordan Silk who has a hamstring injury.
Betting
Thankfully we heard Cameron White in the coverage on Saturday confirm that this match will take place on the pitch that the last two have been played on so you’ve got to think it will be pretty hard to bat on. Usually matches would be played on clean pitches but with all the rescheduled stuff that isn’t possibly this time around. It looked to play pretty tough when the Strikers played the Stars on Saturday and I’m not expecting it to be much better here.
That makes me think the 314.5 run line is a little on the high side here. I accept the Sixers batters found their form last time out but they only scored 150 against this attack in the reverse fixture and the one thing we know about both these teams is they are decent bowling attacks on good pitches let alone used ones. When you throw in the near do or die nature of the match for the Strikers plenty points to the under.
Tips
Back Under 314.5 runs for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Betway
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