Melbourne Renegades vs Brisbane Heat, Big Bash League 2018/19, Today Match Prediction 13 Jan 2019

mlr vs brh Match Prediction & Analysis

Melbourne Renegades will be looking to carry momentum forward when they will face Brisbane Heat in the 29th game of Big Bash League (BBL) in Geelong on Sunday.

When the last time both sides met earlier in the competition, Renegades completed a comprehensive eight-wicket win.

Melbourne Renegades have done exceedingly well so far in this year’s competition with four wins out of seven games played. The franchise has coped well in the absence of their full-time captain Aaron Finch and Marcus Harris.

On the other hand, Brisbane Heat have been suffered with inconsistency so far this season. The side is lying in the bottom half of the table with 4 points from six games played. 

TEAMS PREVIEW

Melbourne Renegades Preview

Tom Cooper-led unit will feel fairly confident going in to the Sunday’s encounter. The side will certainly miss Aaron Finch, who is on international duties for Australia.

The return of Marcus Harris will certainly bolster Renegades batting resources. He scored 28 off 18 balls with the help of five fours and a six. 

Wicket-keeper Sam Harper played well and scored unbeaten 56 runs off 40 balls with the help of seven fours and a six. He has been the leading run-scorer for Renegades so far this season with 183 runs in 7 matches at an average of 30.50. 

Opener Mackenzie Harvey will need to deliver with the bat at the top of the innings. He has only scored 69 runs in 5 matches at an average of 13.80.

In the batting department, Renegades will be depending on the likes of Sam Harper, Mohammad Nabi and Daniel Christian, who have shown decent form with the bat this season.

Captain Tom Cooper and Beau Webster need to produce crucial contributions with the bat.

In the fast-bowling department, the side will be relying on the likes of Usman Khan Shinwari, Kane Richardson and Jake Wildermuth. Kane Richardson has topped the bowling charts for Renegades so far this season with 11 wickets to his name.

Leg-spinner Cameron Boyce bowled well in the previous game played against Brisbane Heat. He picked up two wickets and conceded 17 runs from his four overs.

Melbourne Renegades Predicted Playing XI:

 Tom Cooper (c), Mackenzie Harvey, Marcus Harris, Sam Harper (wk), Beau Webster, Daniel Christian, Mohammad Nabi, Usman Khan, Joe Mennie/Kane Richardson, Cameron Boyce, Jack Wildermuth.

Brisbane Heat Preview

On the other hand, Brisbane Heat will be looking to put in a much improved show with bat and ball. 

In their last match, Brisbane were comfortably brushed aside by Melbourne Renegades at The Gabba, Brisbane.

Opener Max Bryant will be desperate to get runs against Melbourne Renegades. The rookie has got off to decent starts and need to capitalize in order to produce a big score for Heat.

Captain Chris Lynn is the leading run-scorer for Brisbane Heat so far this season with 247 runs in six matches with two half-centuries. Lynn will need to lead from the front and produce something special with the bat to help Brisbane upstage Melbourne in this game.

The big positive for Heat is experienced batsman Brendon McCullum finding form with the bat. McCullum has delivered with the bat with two consecutive half-centuries for Brisbane in the previous two games played in the competition. The franchise will be hoping that he can continue his good form in this game as well.

All-rounder Ben Cutting and middle-order batsman Matt Renshaw have been inconsistent for the team, and therefore, better things will be expected of them. 

Joe Burns and Marnus Labuschagne will fight out for a place in the XI. Wicket-keeper Jimmy Pierson has chipped with cameos for the side so far this season.

In the bowling department, Heat will be depending on the likes of James Pattinson and Mujeeb ur Rahman to produce crucial breakthroughs with the new ball. Leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson produced a tidy spell in the previous game played against Melbourne Renegades.

Brisbane Heat Predicted Playing XI:

 Chris Lynn (c), Brendon McCullum, Marnus Labuschagne, Max Bryant, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Ben Cutting, Matt Renshaw, James Pattinson, Brendan Doggett, Jimmy Peirson (wk), Mitchell Swepson.

Weather Conditions

The pitch prepared for the game will provide a good contest between ball and ball. The spinners have dominated the proceedings in the recent games played at ground. The weather forecast for the game on Sunday will be partly cloudy.

Venue

The Simonds Stadium in South Geelong, Victoria has a hosted a couple of Big Bash League over the years. The stadium has hosted an international T20I game played between Australia and Sri Lanka in 2017. The average score at the venue is around 140 to 150 runs.

Toss: To Bat

Both teams will be keen to win the toss and bat first on this wicket. It will not get easier to bat in the second half of the game as spinners will get assistance from the surface.