The first game of a Boxing Day BBL double header takes place at the SCG as the red hot Sixers host the struggling Stars. Can the Stars pick up their first win of the season and end the Sixers undefeated run?
Jack Tobin has got you covered with his best bets for the Sixers vs Stars, and be sure to stay up to date with BeforeYouBet's previews of every game of BBL13 on our BBL Tips page!
BBL13 Betting Tips
Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Stars
SCG, Tuesday 26th December, 6:05pm AEDT
Sydney Sixers
Predicted XI: Josh Philippe, James Vince, Daniel Hughes, Moises Henriques, Jordan Silk, Jack Edwards, Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jackson Bird, Todd Murphy, Stephen O'Keefe
The Sixers weren’t at their absolute best on Friday night against the Strikers, but won the big moments that mattered in a one run victory at the SCG. Jordan Silk’s unbeaten 66 off 45 deliveries to ensure the Sixers had a defendable target score of 7/155, after being 5/120 in the seventeenth over. The Strikers had the upper hand for the majority of the chase, however the game swung back towards the Sixers thanks to Jackson Bird’s power surge over that only went for four runs.
The most impressive part of the Sixers 3-0 start to the season is the fact that their batting unit hasn’t completely hit their straps yet. The Sixers tallied 7/175 in their season opener, however they only produced scores of 4/139 (19.2 overs) and 7/155 in their other two games. The Sixers got off to a hot start in the power play against the Strikers being 0/39 after four overs, however they couldn’t kick on after Josh Phillipe (25) and James Vince (10) were dismissed in the fifth over.
The Sixers bowling attack has been winning the Sixers games over the opening fortnight of the season. The Sixers have only conceded 456 runs from 60 overs this season, an average economy rate of 7.6 across their three games. The Sixers have been led by veteran seamers Ben Dwarshuis (5 wickets at 18.60) and Jackson Bird (4 wickets at 18.75 and an economy rate of 7.50).
Melbourne Stars
Predicted XI: Tom Rogers, Sam Harper, Beau Webster, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Hilton Cartwright, Jonathan Merlo, Liam Dawson, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Mark Steketee
The Melbourne Stars slumped to their third straight loss to start BBL13 on Saturday, after a five wicket defeat against the Sydney Thunder in Albury. Despite Beau Webster becoming the first player in BBL history to score 50 runs and take 4 wickets in a single game, the Stars total of 172 wasn’t enough. The Stars lost four wickets from the final four balls of their innings, which was a crucial swing of momentum in the match. It was the Stars most competitive performance of the season, however the previously winless Thunder still chased down the target with ten balls remaining.
Beau Webster’s performance against the Thunder was nothing short of remarkable, first scoring 59 off 44 to give the Stars a defendable total of 172. Webster then turned the game with the ball taking three quick wickets after the Thunder started 0/78. Despite only playing two of the Stars three games, Webster is the Stars leading wicket taker (4 wickets) and their second highest run scorer (63 runs).
The Stars 384 runs is the lowest of any team that has played three completed games in BBL13, and their batting over the last two seasons has been the biggest contributor to their underwhelming results. The Stars have only scored above 170 in three of their last ten games, which hasn’t given their underperforming bowling attack a chance to compete.
Match Prediction
These teams are in polar opposite positions at 3-0 & 0-3 respectively, and the Stars face an enormous challenge on the road against a Sixers batting unit that has dominated them in the past. The Sixers have won nine straight matches against the Stars and have scored above 176 in five of their last six games against the Stars. If Philippe and Vince get off to a good start like they did on Friday night, things could get ugly for the Stars.
The Stars have lost seven straight games, and have won only one of their last eleven games, dating back to January 2022. The Sixers are yet to put together a complete game despite being undefeated, which is a major concern for the Stars, because if the Sixers get going in this clash, the Stars stand no chance. The Stars haven't won at the SCG since 2018, and that won’t be changing on Boxing Day this year.
Sydney Sixers
$1.55 (3 Units)
Same Game Multi
James Vince 20+ Runs: James Vince has been one of the best imports in the competition for quite some time and has produced his best against the Stars. In Vince’s last five games against the Stars he has scored 91 not out, 33, 9, 44 and 46, in what has been a dominant run of form by the Englishman. Overall, Vince has scored 300 runs in 11 games at an average of 33 with a strike rate of 133 against the Stars.
Beau Webster 15+ Runs: Webster has been in outstanding form across all formats in domestic cricket this summer, and produced an outstanding performance with both bat at ball against the Thunder on Saturday. In BBL12 Webster scored 274 runs at 28, passing the fifteen run mark in six of his twelve innings.
Stephen O’Keefe To Take a Wicket: The veteran spinner has loved playing against the Melbourne Stars taking 17 wickets, the equal second most of any player in matches between the Sixers and Stars. O’Keefe’s 17 wickets have come at an average of 18.59 and an economy of 5.96. O’Keefe has taken at least one wicket in each of his last three games against the Stars.
