The Hurricanes have booked their ticket into the BBL14 Grand Final, who will join them? The Sixers will host the Thunder in a Sydney Derby for the ages on Friday night to determine who goes through to the big dance. Check out our preview and betting tips for the clash below!
BBL14 Challenger Final Betting Tips
Sydney Sixers vs Sydney Thunder
SCG, Friday 24th January, 7.15pm (AEDT)
Sixers
The Sixers travelled to Hobart to take on the Hurricanes in the qualifier on Tuesday night, ultimately going down by 12 runs, meaning if they want to make their fifth Grand Final in the last six years, they’ll need to do it the hard way. Bowling first, the Sixers got off to a sluggish start as Mitch Owen and Caleb Jewell took advantage of the new ball. Jafar Chohan and Hayden Kerr steadied the ship through the middle overs, however, to help restrict the Canes to a chaseable 7/173 off their 20 overs.
The run chase got off to a terrible start, losing three wickets inside the first three overs before Kurtis Patterson and Jordan Silk put on a much needed 75 run partnership to get the Sixers back in the game. The Sixers battled their way back, ultimately needing 21 off the last over, which proved to be too much.
Can’t see the Sixers making any audacious changes to the line-up for their 2nd final. Especially given a few of their stars in Steve Smith and Sean Abbott are unavailable due to international duty.
Predicted XI: Kurtis Patterson, Josh Philippe, Jack Edwards, Moises Henriques, Jordan Silk, Lachlan Shaw, Ben Dwarshuis, Hayden Kerr, Ben Manenti, Mitch Perry, Jafer Chohan
Sydney Thunder
The Thunder continue to get the job done despite being severely undermanned compared to the team we thought they would have at the start of the season. Missing Sam Konstas, Daniel Sams and Cameron Bancroft as well as a few early international departures, the Thunder still managed to win against the Stars in the eliminator on Wednesday night.
Batting first, the Thunder made a tough wicket look better than it was, overcoming early losses of wickets to post a competitive score of 7/135. It was the bowling effort that was the standout though, as Nathan McAndrew ripped through the Stars line-up, taking 5/16 off his four overs to help bowl Melbourne out for just 114.
Predicted XI: David Warner, Hugh Weigben, Matthew Gilkes, Sam Billings, Oliver Davies, George Garton, Chris Green, Nathan McAndrew, Tom Andrews, Wes Agar, Tanveer Sangha
Prediction
Like the Sixers to bounce back here. They finished the season in solid form, winning their last two games against the Scorchers and Strikers before marginally losing the first final. They are also back at home at the SCG, where they have an absolutely dominant 41-22 record over the course of the BBL.
The Sixers have won their 18/27 games against the Thunder and have been utterly dominant over them in recent history, winning their last six games dating all the way back to January 2021. I expect them to bounce back here and book their place in yet another Grand Final.
Sixers H2H
$1.77 (3 Units)
Player Prop
Liked the look of English international Jafer Chohan a few nights ago against the Hurricanes. It was just his 2nd game in the BBL but he already seems to have a handle on how the Australian pitches play and he finished the game with 2/28 off his four overs.
Took 14 wickets in his last six games of the English T20 cup late last year, is in some great form. Back him for 2+ here.
