The second half of the Big Bash League double header on Saturday is the second Melbourne derby of the season as the Melbourne Renegades go up against their rivals Melbourne Stars in what is a key game for the visitors.
The equation is simple for the Melbourne Stars. If they win their last two matches they will qualify for the postseason but were they to slip up here their fate would be out of their hands. The Renegades are battling to avoid the wooden spoon once again.
Melbourne Renegades
After reaching the playoffs last season and then making some good additions to their squad ahead of this campaign a lot was expected of the Melbourne Renegades this term but they just haven’t got going at all. They have picked up one win in their seven completed matches and in truth they just look like a team who fall apart when the going gets tough. They rarely get walloped but just can’t get over the line in a tight finish and they have paid the price.
This is going to be a transitional period for the Renegades. This will be the final time that Aaron Finch dons the red of the Renegades and you sense that Shaun Marsh won’t have a lot longer left in him. The Renegades should be doing much better than they are with the quality of bowlers that they have at their disposal even allowing for the bizarre situation surrounding Mujeeb and his availability. Ultimately nobody has taken enough responsibility and this has been another season to forget.
Melbourne Stars
The Melbourne Stars have had an up and down season. They started it with three very tame losses and then picked up four very good wins only to lose last time out. It all means that they are still in contention for a place in the latter stages of the event but they really have to win this to keep their destiny in their own hands. If they slip up here there is nothing they can do in terms of reaching the top four should the Adelaide Strikers beat the Sydney Thunder on Sunday.
Generally when the Stars have won this season they have done it when they have chased a score. That tells us that their bowling probably hasn’t been to the level they would want it. It also suggests that their batters are much more comfortable when they know the pace that they need to bat at rather than when they are having to judge what a decent score is. Whether they bat first or second here they just have to win however they do it.
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Key Players
Aaron Finch has had an excellent career and he will bring it to an end in this match. You would imagine a champion player like him would want to go out with one last hurrah against a team who have a number of Australian teammates in it.
Usually when the Melbourne Stars win a game of cricket Glenn Maxwell has had a big say in it whether that is with the bat or the ball. He has gone well in both disciplines this season and will want to lead by example here.
Betting
I’ve a feeling that we might see a high scoring match here. I wouldn’t be completely surprised if the fact that it is the last match for Aaron Finch brings about a positive improvement in the Melbourne Renegades to the tune of them surprising the Melbourne Stars but I can’t be backing a side who religiously baulk at the finish line but the Stars are at the stage where their necessity to win has affected their price so I’m not really interested in them either.
The bet I do like for this one though is for there to be more than 314.5 runs. The Renegades can play with freedom in this one and look to entertain. Aaron Finch has always been an advocate of positive, attacking cricket and even though he isn’t the captain of the Renegades these days, in a game with little on it for them it wouldn’t make much sense for them to come away from that style. The Stars go after everything anyway and have a powerful batting unit. You couldn’t put your hand on heart and say that either team are pulling up trees with the ball so I’ll play the over on this line.
Tips
Back Over 314.5 runs for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
