The final match of the Big Bash League before Christmas takes place on Wednesday when the Melbourne Renegades play their first home match of the season as they welcome the Sydney Sixers to the Etihad Stadium.
The Renegades have only played one match in the tournament to date, a match they won comfortably with a really imposing run chase in Brisbane over the weekend. A win here will set them up nicely for what is to come after the mini Christmas break.
Chris Gayle is the headline attraction for the Renegades side but Aaron Finch stole his thunder in Brisbane. Expect the world boss to come out firing here. With the ball Nathan Hauritz has come into the squad in case a slow wicket is expected. James Pattinson is away with Australia now.
The Sixers went down in the Sydney Smash on the opening night of the tournament but they bounced back to emphatically destroy the Hobart Hurricanes on Sunday. They will know if they win this they are well set up for another solid campaign having been edged out in last year’s final.
Sydney have been forced into one change with Nathan Lyon now away with Australia. That isn’t good for them because Lyon has six wickets in the two matches he has played so all of a sudden there is a big hole in their attack. His wily off spin might have been something to keep Gayle quiet too.
Both these sides have won their last match so unlike the last few games we should have two confident teams in action here which should make for an exciting game of cricket.
In order for me to give the Sixers a go they would have had to have the services of Nathan Lyon available. He is going to be a big loss to them and given that the Sixers don’t bat the deepest any sort of blitz from Gayle or Finch up top could put this match beyond them.
Were those two to miss out the Renegades still have plenty of quality to come in Wade, White, Cooper and Bravo while with the ball they have a number of options to restrict a light looking Sydney batting line up so even at odds on I’m firmly with the Renegades here.
Given Sydney’s light looking batting line up with Johan Botha likely to come in as high as six and the potential that Gayle and Finch have taken the game away from the Sixers if the Renegades bat first which would in turn mean Sydney have to go hell for leather taking all kinds of risks up top it could be worth taking someone in the middle order to top score for the visitors.
The man I like is Jordan Silk. Silk had an excellent campaign last year and got back to form with a fluent 41 at the weekend. That didn’t top score but should Haddin fail in the quest for quick runs Silk could benefit. By the time he comes in it could be about protecting the net run rate so Silk may not need to take as many risks which makes the 9/1 on him top scoring look attractive enough.
Back Melbourne Renegades to beat Sydney Sixers for a 5/10 stake at 1.73 with Paddy Power
Back J.Silk Top Sixers Batsman for a 1/10 stake at 10.00 with Paddy Power
Blog cricket YTD: +27.5pts
