Melbourne Stars Women vs Sydney Thunder Women, WOMENS BIG BASH LEAGUE 2020, Today Match Prediction 28 Nov 2020

mlsw vs sytw Match Prediction & Analysis

After 58 games, many washed away by rain and some going down to the wire, we are into the final of the Women’s Big Bash League 2020. Melbourne Stars Women who were unceremoniously known as the bottom hunters of the points table would be taking on Sydney Thunder Women in the title clash. It is the first appearances for the Stars in the finals and they would be looking bag their maiden title. As for Thunder this would be their second appearance in the finals after bagging the title in the inaugural season in 2015-16. 

The two sides had met twice earlier in the season where the Stars had won a game and the other was washed away by rain. Sydney Thunder Women have enjoyed an excellent record in the past against the Stars and have won seven out of the ten games played between the two sides. Stars however have been a different team this season and dominated during the league stages. With both the teams looking in great form we expect this to be a closely fought final. 

TEAMS PREVIEW

Melbourne Stars Women Preview

It was a comfortable win for Meg Lanning’s side against Perth Scorchers Women in the semifinal. They kept their opponents to a low total and clinically chased down the score winning by 7 wickets with almost four overs to spare. Lanning would want her side to overcome this final hurdle and overcome several seasons of misery in this tournament. With batters and bowlers looking in good form the team is in with a great chance here. 

Elyse Villani and Lanning have done well as a pair with Lanning close to scoring 500 runs in the tournament. The pair would look to provide a steady start to the side and set up a good platform. In the middle order Mignon du Preez, Natalie Sciver and Annabel Sutherland have done well and this adds strength to their batting line-up. With Katherine Brunt, Erin Osborne and Alana King down the order they have good players in the finishers’ role. 

Natalie Sciver has been brilliant with the ball and she along with Brunt will look to strike early. Alana King has bowled tight spells in the season so far and this is a big advantage for the side in the middle overs. Erin Osborne and Sophie Day will focus on bowling tight overs in the middle and keep the Sydney Thunder batters quite in the crease. 

Melbourne Stars Women Predicted Playing XI:

Meg Lanning (c), Elyse Villani, Mignon du Preez, Natalie Sciver, Annabel Sutherland, Katherine Brunt, Erin Osborne, Alana King, Tess Flintoff, Nicole Faltum (wk), Sophie Day

Melbourne Stars Women Actual Playing XI:

Meg Lanning, Nicole Faltum, Sophie Day, Erin Osborne, Alana King, Natalie Sciver, Elyse Villani, Tess Flintoff, Annabel Sutherland, Mignon du Preez, Katherine Brunt

Sydney Thunder Women Preview

Rachael Haynes’ side pushed defending champions Brisbane Heat out of the competition in the 2nd semi-final. It was a closely fought game where Thunder came from behind to win the game. Having made it to the final after a 5 year wait Haynes and her team would be looking to bag their second title. Their players are playing well as a unit and the skipper would like them to carry the same form into the tournament decider. 

At the top Tammy Beaumont and Rachel Trenaman have given goo starts to the side and they would be looking to repeat that magic here. Heather Knight has been among the top run getters in the season and along with Haynes and Phoebe Litchfield adds solidity to the middle order. Sammy-Jo Johnson and Tahila Wilson have good hitting abilities down the order for the side. 

Shabnim Ismail has been troubling batters in the last few games and she will be looking to make good use of the new ball. Samantha Bates has leaked runs in the last few games and she will have to check her line. With Sammy-Jo Johnson, Hannah Darlington and Knight in the attack they have good resources in terms of their bowling. 

Sydney Thunder Women Predicted Playing XI:

Rachael Haynes (c), Tammy Beaumont, Rachel Trenaman, Heather Knight, Phoebe Litchfield, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Tahlia Wilson (wk), Hannah Darlington, Lauren Smith, Shabnim Ismail, Samantha Bates

Sydney Thunder Women Actual Playing XI:

Lauren Smith, Phoebe Litchfield, Shabnim Ismail, Hannah Darlington, Tahlia Wilson, Sammy Jo Johnson, Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight, Rachel Trenaman, Sam Bates, Rachael Haynes

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

Sydney would see light clouds on November 28 but the conditions would be great for a game of cricket. The ball is expected to move around a bit at the start and this is likely to put the batters in two minds in this high-pressure contest. The side batting first would have to be cautious in its approach and score of 150 or more would be considered a good total on this surface.

Venue Details

North Sydney Oval is a small ground with the square boundaries allowing lot of scoring opportunities to the batters. The track here is a lively one where fast bowlers do get good assistance. Spinners have struggled to bowl on this surface as the small size of the ground doesn’t allow them room for error.

Toss: To Bowl

The wicket has been a good one to bat on in both the innings as we have seen several teams comfortably chase down scores here. There is assistance for the bowlers in the early overs of the game. Hence, we believe the side winning the toss would like to  bowl first and apply pressure on the opponents.