Two of the BBL13 heavy hitters – the Melbourne Stars and Sydney Sixers - will face off in a blockbuster clash this Saturday night at the MCG.
Both teams are on course to appear in the finals, and I expect plenty of fireworks from the likes of Maxwell, Stoinis, Vince and Abbott!
Josh Nevett provides his full match preview and betting tips below.
BBL13 Stars vs Sixers Betting Tips
MCG, Saturday 6th January, 7:15pm (AEDT)
Melbourne Stars
The Stars are one of the form teams in the BBL right now, having chalked up four wins on the trot.
Melbourne’s stars have quite literally aligned – Maxwell, Stoinis, Lawrence and Wasim are all playing and in form – eliminating the weaknesses that have dogged the men in green in the past.
Furthermore, the return of both Scott Boland and Nathan Coulter-Nile strengthens Melbourne’s fast bowling stocks considerably. I expect at least one of those men to play on Saturday, in great news for Stars fans.
The Stars should really secure a finals berth from this point, as they have a dream run home consisting of two home games and a clash against lowly crosstown rivals, the Renegades.
This fixture against the Sixers will almost be the toughest assignment of those three matches, but the Stars will just about have their best XI on the field.
Predicted XI: Rogers, Lawrence, Webster, Maxwell, Stoinis, Cartwright, Wasim, Harper (wk), Coulter-Nile, Paris, Boland
Sydney Sixers
The Sixers have lost some momentum over the last few rounds, copping two losses alongside a pair of washouts.
As such, they are now vulnerable in third on the table, so a winning result in this fixture is crucial.
Low totals with the bat have cost the men in magenta in recent times – the Sixers have not topped 155 since their opening match.
That has placed a heavy burden on the bowlers, who have done a terrific job as usual, with Jackson Bird and Jack Edwards leading the way (eight wickets each).
However, improved batting returns will be required, especially from experienced campaigners Vince and Henriques.
Vince was the standout in the last encounter between these teams, scoring 83 off 55 balls, so the Stars will be scheming to remove him early.
In terms of team selection, Daniel Hughes should return for this one alongside Bird, while Murphy and Patterson may cop the axe.
Predicted XI: Phillipe, Vince, Hughes, Henriques, Silk, Curran, Edwards, Abbott, Dwarshuis, Bird, O’Keefe
Match Prediction
The punters can’t split these two teams, and that doesn’t surprise me.
While the Stars got the points last time around in a tight finish, overseas stars Haris Rauf and Usama Mir combined for six wickets that night, and neither will be in the XI on Saturday.
Nevertheless, I really like the balance of Melbourne’s lineup at the moment, despite their lack of strike bowlers.
The Sixers lack the batting firepower to stretch the Stars, so I expect the men in green to win in front of home fans.
Melbourne Stars to Win
$1.90 (2 Units)
Same Game Multi
Maxwell has scored 688 runs against the Sixers, the most of any Stars player, and he will be keen to guide his side home in this one. While the Stars skipper scored just 12 against Sydney earlier this campaign, his form has been far better than that.
Maxwell has hit nine maximums this BBL, and he cleared the rope once before losing his wicket at the SCG.
Match Betting – Melbourne Stars
Player to Score 20+ Runs – Glenn Maxwell
Player to Hit 1+ Sixers – Glenn Maxwell
