There is a bit of a logjam on six points in the Big Bash League table but one side will break free and move top on their own on Tuesday when two of those sides collide at the Adelaide Oval when the Adelaide Strikers host the Perth Scorchers.
This is the second time these two sides will have met this season after the Strikers went to Perth and won earlier in the campaign. A fourth win of the season for either side will strengthen their semi-final claims and put them in pole position for a home game in the playoffs.
Adelaide Strikers will be in action for the first time since their remarkable win against the Sydney Sixers on New Year’s Eve. They looked down and out in that match but showed the benefit of taking the match as deep as you can because you just never know what can happen in this format of the game.
There have been casualties for the Strikers from that win though. Craig Simmons has been denied the chance to face his former side. He’s been dropped with Jake Lehmann replacing him while Michael Neser returns in place of Hamish Kingston.
Perth Scorchers are unbeaten since that defeat to the Strikers in their opening match. They have won their last three matches and only lost two wickets in their last two matches. When you think they are famed for their bowling attack it is ominous how well they are batting.
Given the emphatic nature of the Scorchers’ last two wins it is no surprise that they have named an unchanged squad for this game and it would be a bigger surprise if they don’t name the same XI for this match too.
The Strikers got the better of things when these two met in Perth but the Scorchers seemed to need that run out to get the cobwebs out of their system and they’ve been almost flawless since then.
Credit where it is due to the Strikers. They were involved in a brilliant battle with the Sixers on New Year’s Eve but nine times out of 10 they would have lost that match and that would have put them under pressure in this match.
But for that great escape it would have been two defeats on the bounce for the Strikers so I think the Scorchers go into this match in the better place and with that in mind I’m more than happy to get involved in the champions here.
I think the sixes line is a little low here too. Usually I’d swerve a Scorchers match in terms of going over in sixes but the square boundaries here are so short and Shaun Marsh is at the top of the innings for Perth which I think boosts the chances of maximums here.
10.5 is the line and in the two matches on this ground so far we’ve seen 11 and 18 sixes hit. The square boundaries are easily accessible but if they play on one side of the square one of the straight ones will be within reach too. Plenty of big hitters on show here so I’ll take the overs too.
Back Perth Scorchers to beat Adelaide Strikers for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Boylesports
Back 11 or more sixes for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
