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CLAIM NOWToss Winner - Melbourne Stars won the toss and choose to bowl first
Sydney Thunder beat Melbourne Stars by 21 runs
The last loss Melbourne Stars suffered was against Sydney Thunder back on December 28.
We are backing Melbourne Stars to continue their winning momentum and clinch the Knockout final.
Tournament: | Big Bash League, 2024-25 |
Format: | t20 |
Venue: | Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park, Australia |
Toss Prediction: | To Bat |
Weather: | 22.2°C|Partly cloudy |
Melbourne Stars have secured their first appearance in the BBL finals since the 2019-20 season by turning around a tough 0-5 start with five consecutive victories. They are now set to compete against third-placed Sydney Thunder in the knockout final at Engie Stadium on Wednesday night. Interestingly, the Stars' last defeat came against the Thunder on December 28. Since then, under the leadership of their dynamic captain Glen Maxwell, the Stars have been unstoppable. In contrast, the Thunder have shown some irregular performance. Given their current momentum, the Stars will be favorites for this knockout clash.
165/4 in 16.5 9.8
164/6 in 20.0 8.2
177/4 in 20.0 8.85
179/6 in 20.0 8.95
219/5 in 20.0 10.95
179/10 in 19.3 9.18
123/10 in 19.5 6.2
165/10 in 20.0 8.25
171/5 in 19.4 8.69
168/7 in 20.0 8.4
119/7 in 20.0
BBL T20 2022
Sydney Thunder won by 3 wkts
120/7 in 18.5
The Thunder secured their place in the BBL|14 finals with a strong win against the Scorchers at home last week. This is a significant turnaround from last season, where they finished last with only one victory. Unfortunately, the rain-affected Sydney Smash at the SCG on Friday ended their opportunity to vie for a top-two position and a double chance in the playoffs.
Throughout the season, the Thunder remained near the top of the standings despite facing several injuries within the team. Up to six players from their original 18-man roster missed games. David Warner has been instrumental in providing the team with regular solid starts, scoring 346 runs in 9 innings.
Sam Billings is another player to watch, currently in excellent form with 185 runs in 8 innings and a strike rate of 136.
In the bowling department, Chris Green has been the primary threat for the Thunder, taking 11 wickets in 8 innings while maintaining an economy rate of 7.32. Green also has 18 wickets at the Engie Stadium - the most by any bowler from either side. Wes Agar and Nathan McAndrew have also contributed effectively, together claiming 15 wickets. Tanveer Sangha completes their bowling lineup, making it both strong and adaptable.
Oliver Davies, David Warner (c), Matthew Gilkes, Sam Billings (wk), George Garton, Hugh Weibgen, Chris Green, Tanveer Sangha/Wes Agar, Nathan McAndrew, Tom Andrews, Mohammad Hasnain
David Warner, George Garton, Oliver Davies, Chris Green, Matthew Gilkes, Sam Billings, Wes Agar, Nathan McAndrew, Tanveer Sangha, Tom Andrews, Hugh Weibgen
After starting the season with five straight losses, the Melbourne Stars have bounced back by winning their last five games, earning an unexpected place in the BBL finals. To clinch their place, they needed to defeat top-ranked Hobart in the final regular-season game. Batting first at the MCG, the Stars posted a formidable 5-219, which paved the way for a 40-run victory over the Hurricanes.
Glenn Maxwell has been pivotal in turning the Stars' fortunes around and proved that once again in the previous game, scoring an explosive unbeaten 76 from just 32 balls, including six sixes. With 297 runs in eight games and a strike rate of 194.11, Maxwell has been the team's standout performer this season.
Captain Marcus Stoinis has also been in excellent form, contributing 296 runs in 10 innings with a strike rate of 130.97, playing a significant role in their resurgence.
Peter Handscomb has been added to the squad, stepping in for Beau Webster, who has left for national duties. Handscomb, with his wealth of experience, is expected to strengthen the team's batting.
On the bowling side, Mark Steketee has been consistent, claiming 15 wickets with an economy rate of 6.97. Peter Siddle, the experienced 40-year-old former Test bowler, has played a vital role with 11 wickets this season. Alongside him, Usama Mir, Joel Paris, and Tom Curran form a powerful bowling unit capable of challenging any opponent.
Maxwell has been in prolific form off-late where he has scores of 76, 58 & 90 runs in the last three matches. With him in such good form and this being a knockout game, we back Maxwell to come good with the bat and play another match winning knock.
Thomas Fraser Rogers, Sam Harper (wk), Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis (c), Hilton Cartwright, Tom Curran, Joel Paris, Usama Mir, Mark Steketee, Peter Siddle
Thomas Fraser Rogers, Sam Harper, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Hilton Cartwright, Tom Curran, Usama Mir, Mark Steketee, Peter Siddle, Doug Warren, Peter Handscomb
The Sydney Showground pitch is expected to offer good bounce and some early seam movement, making it a challenge for batsmen in the initial overs. Fast bowlers can take advantage of the green surface to induce swing and generate pressure. Batters, once set, can capitalize as the pitch tends to flatten out. Expect scores in the moderate range, as the outfield isn't the quickest. Spin might become a factor later in the innings as the surface wears, but fast-medium bowlers with variations could be most effective overall.
The weather in Sydney will be hot and very windy in the afternoon, which could help the seam bowlers get more swing off the air.
The average first innings score at the Sydney Showground is 150. The highest total posted here is Brisbane Heat’s 203-5 versus Sydney Thunder in the 2022-23 BBL Eliminator. Both teams will be looking to set a score of around 180 runs to feel secure.
We are backing the home team Sydney Thunder to win the coin toss in today's match.
The average total match score in the three BBL matches played at the Sydney Showground Stadium this season is 296 runs. But the pitches have gotten better for batting as the season progressed and both teams are coming into this contest on the back of high scoring games, where both batting units have been in good form. We predict today's match to be a high scoring one and the total match score to be over 320 runs.
Given that this is a knockout game, we reckon both teams will look to bat first and try and put on a huge total to get ahead in the game.
With five wins in a row powering them forward, Melbourne Stars have transformed into a real threat as they enter the knockout stage. In contrast, the Thunder have had a solid season but are aiming to overcome their inconsistent performances. Unfortunately for the Thunder, injuries have impacted their squad, and they might find it challenging against a Stars team that’s in great form and has nothing to lose. Given the current performances of both teams, our forecast favors a Stars win in the Knockout final.
We are backing Melbourne Stars to continue their winning momentum and clinch the Knockout final.
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