BBL06 is well and truly in full swing now. With every team having played at least a few games, its starting to become a little easier to gauge form. However, at the best of times the Big Bash League is an absolute crap shoot, so we’ll try our best to give some insight into Round 4 of BBL06 with a preview and betting tips below. Round 4 begins with the second game of a double header as the previous round ends, so click here for BBL06 Round 3 betting tips.
BBL06 Round 4 Betting Tips
Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Thunder (Sunday 1st, 9.15pm AEDT)
We saw the Thunder blow the most winnable game in BBL history on Wednesday night against the Heat. Chasing 158 for victory, the Heat fell to 7/113 with just four overs to play. Superstar Chris Lynn was then handed two lifelines through dropped catches by Thunder skipper Shane Watson and keeper Jake Doran. There were 6 sixes hit through the last five overs as the Heat snatched victory on the third last ball of the match. The loss takes the Thunder to 0-3 on the season so far and all but out of playoff contention.
They come up against the Scorchers in the first match of round four, who are in a familiar position atop the BBL table with two wins from their three matches. However, it was a get out of jail game against the Renegades on Thursday night, needing 9 from the last over to secure victory, the Scorchers were in all sorts after losing wickets with the second and third ball of the over. Aaron Finch, who surprisingly found himself bowling the final over due to a Dwayne Bravo injury then bowled a full toss to Ashton Agar with Perth needing three off the last ball to win. Agar dispatched it for six.
They Scorchers definitely have not looked as good as their top of the table position would suggest. Their last two batting totals of 152 and 130 have been very sub-par and although they bat low, with Captain Adam Voges regularly coming in at 8, apart from Mitch Marsh, they lack serious firepower in their middle order. If they were coming up against anyone but the Thunder here, I would probably pick against them, but since they are playing Sydney, and have the added advantage of playing at home, I like them to win this one.
TIP: Scorchers to Win - $1.62 at CrownBet
Hobart Hurricanes vs Adelaide Strikers (Monday 2nd, 7.10pm AEDT)
Hobart have been the surprise packets of BBL06 so far. While they just have a 1-1 record from their 2 games, it’s been their two batting performances that have really provided excitement for Hurricanes fans. With totals of 200 and 188 in their two games, one at home and one away, the Hurricanes have proven the talent and depth of their batting lineup on any wicket. If they can avoid losing Tim Paine to what now looks like an inevitable international call up, then their lineup looks set in stone and primed to do serious damage.
The Hurricanes are in an enviable position of not being riddled by omissions due to international duty, which bodes well for them going forward. However, the same can be said for their opponents in this match, the Strikers. With their only possible call up being Travis Head, the Strikers also have a very talented batting lineup that was unlucky not to get the win in their first game against the Heat after falling 10 runs short of a 206-run total. Their second game was a different story. Chasing 198 for victory, the Strikers fell way short, ending their 20 overs at 9/149. With Ben Dunk, Head, Brad Hodge and Kieron Pollard leading the charge, the Strikers have potential to win on any given night, however, I think the Hurricanes will be too strong at home in this one.
TIP: Hobart Hurricanes to Win - $1.95 at CrownBet
Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Sixers (Tuesday 3rd, 6.10pm AEDT)
The Heat remain one of only two undefeated teams still in the league along with the Stars and it’s all thanks to a well-rounded performance, with arguably the bat winning one game and the ball winning the other. They were able to put on 206 in the first match which proved too much for the Strikers, and keeping Thunder to 157 in the second match means they were able to secure their 2-0 record.
They come up against the Sixers on Tuesday night who also sit on two wins on the season so far, the Sixers also have a loss to their name in a dismal performance against the Hurricanes. This is a matchup of two teams who were out of the playoffs last year but look to have turned their fortunes around in BBL06. A lot can happen in the course of the season, however, and these are two teams that I predicted would finish near the bottom of the table.
Brisbane is proving to be a batsmen’s paradise, with over 400 runs being scored in the only game there this year. The Sixers bowling attack is their strength this year, which I think bodes well for them on this track. If they can do what they have been doing in their two wins and keep their opponents to a modest total, their batsmen should have a field day against a weaker Heat bowling attack on this wicket.
TIP: Sydney Sixers to Win - $2.15 at Crownbet
Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Stars (Wednesday 4th, 7.10pm AEDT)
The Stars will play only their 3rd game of the tournament in Round 4. As of writing this, the Melbourne Derby has not taken place, so we only have one game to draw form from. The game in question was a dominant batting performance against the Hurricanes. Set 188 to win, the Stars chased it down with ease, passing the mark with 14 balls to spare. The Stars are my pick to win it all this year on the back of their ridiculous batting lineup. Selection issues might be a concern with James Faulkner and Glenn Maxwell routinely in the mix for international selection, however, they are so deep at nearly every position I cant see them dropping this one to ladder dwellers the Thunder.
After the Stars loss to the Renegades on Sunday night, we are getting a little bit more value than I expected. While it still might be the base of a multi, the $1.53 we are getting now is better than what we would have got if, as I predicted, the Stars had have beaten the Renegades.
TIP: Melbourne Stars to Win - $1.53 at Sportsbet
