It’s finals time in the Big Bash League and the Sydney Sixers have put themselves in the hunt for victory to be on the first line of betting in the 2019/20 Winner market at $2.37. We take a look at Friday’s (31/1/2020) BBL Big Bash 2020 match which is between the Melbourne Stars and Sydney Sixers. Melbourne Stars go into the match as favourites but the bookies have it as a pretty even match.
When: Friday, 31st January at 7:16PM
Where: MCG
Bet: Bet On This Match HERE
Preview:
They sit just above the Melbourne Stars at $2.40. An impressive run of form and introduction of elite talent has resulted in the newly-found favouritism with the Sixers shortening from $10.
Once out at $10 to take out the tournament, the Sixers come into the finals in scintillating form winning three games in a row and taking the chocolates in eight of their last ten completed matches. Their recent performances and the arrival of Steve Smith has been enough for one punter to get $5,000 down on the Sixers at $5 before the price dropped to its current $2.37.
It’s not difficult to drum up some confidence in this Sixers outfit. Already playing good cricket and looking like true BBL contenders, they’ve welcomed back Smith who wasted little time in stamping his authority on the league. Getting his eye in with a disappointing nine runs off nine balls in his first outing, Smith returned to the crease against the Melbourne Renegades in their last match of the group stages to slap 66 runs off 40 balls through seven fours, a six, and a 165 strike rate.
Sydney’s favouritism in the futures market sees them go into The Qualifier against Melbourne as $1.87 favourites. The winner of this one goes straight into hosting the BBL Final on February 8 while the loser will be forced to navigate The Challenger match on February 6 to qualify.
If you’ve got one game of cricket to win in 2020 and can pick any player to make it happen, there is one man at the top of the list: Steve Smith.
His presence in the team is enough to be confident in getting behind the Sixers both at $1.87 to beat the Stars on Thursday and the $2.37 to win it all just over a week later. Should the Sixers make the final, they won’t be close to $2.37 when the first ball is bowled.
The Sixers are in brilliant form and should only improve as Smith gets more comfortable. With two cracks at making the final, expect the Sixers to be there with the $2.37 looking like a gift.
Odds:
Tip: Sydney Sixers $1.98
Value BET: Man of the Match: Steve Smith at $10.00
Teams:
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.
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).