It’s a top-of-the-table clash kick off the last week of the BBL regular season. But the Melbourne Stars have put a seven-point gap between themselves and the stumbling second-placed Sydney Sixers. We take a look at Monday’s (20/1/2020) BBL Big Bash 2020 match between Sydney Sixers and Melbourne Stars and give our tips and value tips for the match.
When: Monday, 20th January at 6:40PM
Where: SCG
Bet: Bet On This Match HERE
Preview:
After two one-sided victories over the Sixers last season, the Stars racked up a 44-run at the MCG eight days ago.
Marcus Stoinis shattered all manner of BBL records with 147 not out of just 79 balls as the Stars racked up 1/219. Hilton Cartwright’s solid 59 off 40 was put in the shade by his opening partner. Moises Henriques (41 off 25) was the only Sixers batsman to get going, while Clint Hinchcliffe took 3/20 for the Stars.
That result ended a five-match winning streak for the Sixers. Since then, they shared the points in an SCG washout against the Hurricanes before suffering a dismal derby defeat to the Thunder on Saturday.
The Sixers were 5/15 before eventually scratching their way to 76 all out. The Thunder prevailed by four runs via DLS method in a rain-shorted clash. Previously in-form opener Josh Philippe is on a run of four single-digit scores, while Jordan Silk has struggled to get going all season.
The Stars have advanced to a 10-1 record after a pair of win over the Scorchers in the past five days. Jackson Coleman (3/16) helped dismiss the Scorchers for just 86 in Perth, before Stoinis (39* off 31) steered the Stars to an easy eight-wicket win.
Cartwright (58 off 56) and man-of-the-match Glenn Maxwell (25 off 23 and 1/20) saw the Stars to a tense 10-run win in Melbourne on Saturday afternoon.
The Stars are without Australian ODI squad members Handscomb and Adam Zampa. The Sixers’ only ODI absentee is Steve Smith, who is yet to line up in the BBL this season.
The Stars, $1.65 favourites here, are very tough to back against at present. The look good value to clear the rope more often than the out-of-sorts Sixers with Stoinis, Cartwright and Maxwell in hot form.
Odds:
Tip: Melbourne Stars $1.62
Value BET: Man of the Match: Glenn Maxwell at $6.50
Teams:
Sydney Sixers squad
Moises Henriques (c), Sean Abbott, Justin Avendano, Jackson Bird, Tom Curran (England), Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Mickey Edwards, Daniel Fallins, Josh Hazlewood, Daniel Hughes, Nathan Lyon, Stephen O’Keefe, Josh Philippe, Lloyd Pope, Jordan Silk, Steve Smith, James Vince (England)
Melbourne Stars squad
Glenn Maxwell (c), Pat Brown (England – international replacement), Hilton Cartwright, Jackson Coleman, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Ben Dunk, Seb Gotch, Peter Handscomb, Clint Hinchliffe, Sandeep Lamichhane (Nepal), Nick Larkin, Nic Maddinson, Jonathan Merlo, Lance Morris, Tom O’Connell, Dale Steyn (South Africa), Marcus Stoinis, Daniel Worrall, Adam Zampa
*Odds correct at time of posting. Subject to change
