There is one match in the Big Bash League on Thursday when the tournament heads back to the Manuka Oval in Canberra as the Sydney Thunder look to get their challenge back on track when they host the Melbourne Renegades.
We are reaching the business end of the regular season now and with the Thunder now out of the top five they really need to get back to winning ways. The Renegades can take a major step towards the finals with a win here.
Sydney Thunder
This is becoming quite a frustrating season for the Sydney Thunder. We keep repeating that when they are good they are very good, but when they are bad they are way worse than you would expect a team at this level to be. They need the best version of themselves probably in their last three matches if they are going to be around for the finals but certainly in two of them. Their net run rate was always going to be an issue for them after being bowled out for 15 and that remains the case hence why they might need to win out.
If they are going to win out from this position then their batting needs to turn up and bat as one whole unit and put proper performances on the board. They have injuries which is unfortunate but the players they have available are more than good enough to be doing a lot better than what they are. If that batting does click and comes good then their bowling looks decent enough and should be able to convert the scores into wins.
Melbourne Renegades
The Melbourne Renegades are up to third place in the table after the win in the Melbourne derby last weekend and while a win here wouldn’t secure a top five spot for them, it would go a long way to doing it. They have the Perth Scorchers up after this game though and that looks a tricky assignment so they will want to give themselves some wriggle room with a win here. Winning here would also put them in pole position to finish third and host their first playoff game.
The Renegades are starting to look good with the ball with bowlers taking wickets with the new ball and spinners who can restrict the runs in the middle overs so if they can bat well then there is no reason why Melbourne won’t back the top five. That batting has relied on individual efforts a little too much for my liking recently but ultimately as long as they win they won’t really care who is getting the job done for them I wouldn’t think.
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Key Players
Ollie Davies is in some sublime form at the minute and whether it is rebuilding the innings or taking a good platform and building it into something more substantial the Sydney Thunder will be hoping he has a big innings in him here.
Sam Harper is very much the identical man for the Melbourne Renegades. He has hit a couple of 50s recently and can either plough on from a good start or rebuild the innings into a position where he can go big when needed.
Betting
I’m a little surprised that the Melbourne Renegades are the outsiders for this match. Admittedly I’m not a massive fan of backing them but there is no getting away from the fact that they are winning games and probably look the better of the two teams. They have already beaten the Sydney Thunder this season when Rilee Rossouw plundered 50 for the Thunder. He won’t be doing that in this match so Sydney need to find something here.
I like the twin spin threat of the Renegades in this match and if the likes of Tom Rogers and Kane Richardson can get rid of Dave Warner at the top of the innings you have to think the Thunder will increasingly come under pressure. While Sam Harper has been doing it with the bat in recent times for the Renegades, there is also Aaron Finch while the likes of Martin Guptill and Jono Wells have to come to form soon. I just think the Renegades are going better than the Thunder and their performances have been more consistent even in defeat. They look a big price at 11/10.
Tips
Back Melbourne Renegades to beat Sydney Thunder for a 3/10 stake at 2.10 with Betfred
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