The BBL14 season continues on Sunday night as the Brisbane Heat take on the Adelaide Strikers at 7.15pm from the Gabba. Check out our full preview and betting tips for the clash below.
BBL14 Heat vs Strikers Betting Tips
Gabba, Sunday 22nd December, 7.15pm
Heat
The Heat kicked off their season on Wednesday night with a comfortable win at the MCG over the Melbourne Stars. Bowling first, the Heat restricted their opponents to 6/162, with Xavier Bartlett the pick of the bowlers, taking 3/24 off his four overs. In reply, the Heat made short work of the total, chasing it down with 11 balls to spare and losing just two wickets in the process.
Jimmy Peirson was the standout with the bat for the Heat, smashing 72 off 56 balls while Max Bryant chipped in with 36 off 22 balls at no.4 to steer his team home. Despite a comfortable win, the Heat could be in line for some big changes to the line-up for their 2nd game, with skipper Colin Munro as well as Spencer Johnson potentially returning from injury. With the recent news that Nathan McSweeney has also been dropped from the Test squad, there is even a possibility that he will return.
Predicted XI: Colin Munro, Jimmy Peirson, Nathan McSweeney, Matt Renshaw, Max Bryant, Paul Walter, Xavier Partlett, Will Prestwidge, Spencer Johnson, Mitch Swepson, Matt Kuhnemann
Strikers
The Strikers bounced back from a disappointing loss to the Thunder in their season opener to defeat the Melbourne Stars in their 2nd game on Saturday night. Batting first, the Strikers put on 6/165 led by a brilliant 60 off 42 balls from D’Arcy Short. Alex Ross chipped in down the order with 35 off 26.
After having 33 smashed off him in the 19th over of their game against the Thunder, spinner Lloyd Pope fired back against the Stars, taking 3/21 to be the standout bowler in the win. Chris Lynn missed the game with calf soreness but I expect him to be back in the line-up here.
Predicted XI: Matt Short, Jake Weatherald, D’Arcy Short, Chris Lynn, Ollie Pope, Alex Ross, Jamie Overton, James Bazley, Henry Thornton, Cameron Boyce, Lloyd Pope
Prediction
Tough game to call here between two teams who are coming off solid wins. The Heat, however, are generally pretty solid at home on Gabba conditions, and should have some huge ins to strengthen their line-up in the likes of Munro, Johnson and McSweeney. The Heat have won their last three games on the trot against the Strikers and I expect that streak to continue on Sunday night.
Heat H2H
$1.90 (1.5 Units)
Player Prop
Jimmy Peirson looks in stellar touch to open his season with a match winning 72 off 56 balls in the win over the Stars. Peirson has amassed the 2nd most runs in T20 history at the Gabba, behind only Chris Lynn, scoring 719 runs from 41 games at a healthy average of 28.7. Back him to put up another healthy score on Sunday night.
Peirson Top Heat Runscorer
$4.50
