The Perth Scorchers are already in the Big Bash League final and on Wednesday they will find out their opponents at the big dance when the Sydney Sixers host the Adelaide Strikers in the Challenger with the winners heading through to play for the trophy on Friday.
The Sixers have already had one chance to make it through to the final which they made a mess of and they will be looking for a much better outcome here. The Strikers have navigated two knockout matches so far and if that becomes three here they will be into the final.
Sydney Sixers
The Sydney Sixers could barely have chosen a worse time for one of their worst performances of the season in the qualifier. The defending champions were never in the game and that is just not like them. Even when they don’t win matches there is usually a period where they give themselves a chance to win but that never materialised and that will have disappointed them. They will need to have gone away and taken stock of things and got ready to go again here.
The positive for the Sixers is that they have home advantage in this match. They were the better side in the regular season but they could only share the spoils with the Strikers in their head to head which will disappoint them. If they are going to win this match and make the final then they have to be so much better than they were in the qualifier in the first 10 overs of each innings. They allowed Perth to get away from them with the ball and were basically dead and buried after 10 overs of the run chase.
Adelaide Strikers
If you are a believer in momentum in sport then clearly that lies solely with the Adelaide Strikers going into this match. They have won their last six matches and seven of their last eight, seemingly from nowhere, and go into this match playing some excellent cricket. Not only are they on this fantastic run of form but they are on it with their backs against the wall and it is that sort of thing which really elevates the confidence in a team.
Even in the early stages of the season their bowlers were delivering the goods for them but they just lacked a bit with the bat. There was always the thought that if they got to this latter stage of the campaign that the batting woes would naturally sort themselves out because two kingpins would return and that is exactly how it has played out. The Strikers know they have it in them to win this match but it uses up a lot of mental resources playing do or die cricket for so long so that could be an issue.
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Team News
The Sydney Sixers are going to be without Jack and Mickey Edwards for this match as they have tested positive for Covid. Daniel Hughes got injured in the field in the previous game and will be a game time decision for this one.
The Adelaide Strikers have no need to make any changes to their side after the emphatic nature they have dealt with the Hobart Hurricanes and the Sydney Thunder so far this postseason. Any changes will be because of a late illness or injury.
Betting
Bookmakers can’t split these two sides and while I understand why, I’m always reluctant to oppose the Sydney Sixers on their home ground. At the same time, after their display in the last game I can’t say I’m in any rush to side with them either. The fact the Sixers were the better team in the regular season might well count for something but right now I don’t think there is a lot between these two sides and the one which plays the best on the day is likely to win.
The bet I like instead is for there to be more than 314.5 runs. The last match between these two in the regular season covered this line and at the Sydney Cricket Ground this season in three of the first matches the first innings score has been well in excess of 190. Were that to happen here then the team batting second would only need a run a ball or so to get this line covered. There is no shortage of batting depth in either of these two teams right now so the over looks the way to go on what has been a high scoring ground this term with the exception of one occasion.
Tips
WON – Back Over 314.5 runs for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
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