The second match in the Big Bash League double header on Monday is a dead rubber as the Brisbane Heat take on the Perth Scorchers as we begin to wind down on the regular season and get ready for the business part of the campaign.
The Heat can no longer make the playoffs so they will be playing out time on their season. The Scorchers are guaranteed a top two spot so they know that once they finish their regular campaign here they can focus on the qualifier on Sunday.
Brisbane Heat
This has been a poor season for the Brisbane Heat and I think that showed on Sunday when they were destroyed by the Melbourne Stars. The Heat actually had a few things in their favour heading into that match but they were poor from start to finish and were soundly beaten. In many ways it was fitting that their season ended from a competitive standpoint in that way because at no stage really have we seen the best of them.
They have to be cut a little bit of slack with the Covid issues they encountered along the way but there was no excuse for such a poor performance on Sunday when they had their season on the line. They have two matches left now where they will hope they can play without any shackles on them and at least show their fans what they can do ahead of next season where the onus will be on them to produce a much stronger showing.
Perth Scorchers
There has been no doubt that the Perth Scorchers have been the best team of the season so far but that won’t mean a thing to them if they don’t go on and lift the title next week. This match would normally be an inconvenience to them but actually they get a couple of players back to reintegrate into the squad so the hit out for them could be a blessing in disguise after they have sat on the Australia bench for the last couple of weeks.
If there is a concern for the Scorchers heading into the finals it is that their bowling has just started to lose some key personnel and as a result of that they have become a little more expensive. That is why it was important they gave themselves two shots at making the final, not that they want to take both chances, but they have a safety net. One thing which in the main has been good all season is the Perth batting and that is no bad thing.
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Team News
Fakhar Zaman has been recalled back to Pakistan to prepare for the Pakistan Super League so he misses here while Jack Wildermuth has gone back to Queensland for personal reasons so the Heat could be unchanged.
Perth Scorchers get two key players back for this match with Josh Inglis and Mitchell Marsh returning from Australia duty. Colin Munro returns from isolation but Ashton Agar is being assessed ahead of the game and Laurie Evans is out with the broken toe he sustained on Saturday.
Betting
This match being at Marvel Stadium has to throw up the potential for a number of sixes to be hit. In many ways it is the ideal situation for sixes to be hit in terms of the fact that we know the boundaries are accessible here. They have been in all the matches played on this ground throughout the season but the other factor in our favour is that there is nothing at all on the game so players can relax and play with some freedom and look to entertain.
Perth are starting to lose one or two bowlers that isn’t really ideal, not least Ashton Agar here who could have been useful on this ground. Brisbane have a point to prove but the way they went around the park on Sunday you’d have to think the Perth batters will enjoy themselves. The sixes line in this match is only 11.5 and I’ve got to think with no competitive pressure on the match that these two sides will get that covered here.
Tips
WON – Back Over 11.5 sixes for a 3/10 stake at 1.91 with Betfair
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