Big Bash League (BBL05) Round 7 Betting Tips
It’s still tight in the race for a finals berth as we approach the last two rounds of Big Bash League. The absence of national stars makes it a little more interesting as the race to semis will be on top of everyone’s mind.
Jan 10, 4:20 PM local: Hobart Hurricanes vs Perth Scorchers at Blundstone Arena
The Hurricanes are in that territory of “so near yet so far”. With a terrible net run rate, the Hurricanes would not want to leave their chances of progression to luck. A win against Scorchers is essential but the patchy form of their batsmen is hurting them. George Bailey is out, and can they continue to rely only on Dan Christian? They need one of their top order to stand up.
Scorchers have dominated the BBL in recent years but are consistently written off by critics. They are not yet guaranteed a spot in the finals and would want to confirm progression with a victory here. Ashton Agar and Cameron Bancroft continue to impress while Jason Behrendorff and Andrew Tye should be able to cover the absence of Joel Paris.
Verdict: Back Scorchers at odds of $1.73 at Sportsbet
Jan 10, 7:25 PM local: Sydney Sixers vs Brisbane Heat at the SCG
The Sixers have a long shot at qualification for the finals but have been up and down throughout the tournament with injuries really hurting their chances. Their last game was almost a week back which may be enough time for Brad Haddin to recover from a groin strain but they will miss Nic Maddinson who has done his ankle. Their floundering batting unit is a worry and it’s hard to see how they will score enough runs. Bowling is a worry too with very little control and incision on display from the likes of Doug Bollinger and Jackson Bird.
The Heat had their hopes of the knockouts evaporate much earlier in the season but they were mathematically shut out following their loss to the Strikers. Chris Lynn has been a revelation this season and would like to continue his quest for a T20 World Cup berth. He’ll enjoy having Joe Burns back in support, but can they do enough to lift their side off the bottom of the ladder?
Verdict: Back Sixers at odds of $1.90 at CrownBet
Jan 11, 7:40 PM local: Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Renegades at Spotless
The Thunder would be wary of getting lost in the teams battling out on equal points. The injury to Mike Hussey could mean more responsibility to Shane Watson but the man to watch out for is the dynamic Andre Russell who is a force with both bat and ball.
The Renegades are in desperation mode after a poor loss against the Stars in their recent derby. The loss of Aaron Finch to the ODI side isn’t helping with Chris Gayle unable to show enough consistency. Dwayne Bravo continues to be their key player with the bat and ball, but it’s hard to see him able to do enough to lift them into contention.
Verdict: Back Thunder at odds of $1.66 at Sportsbet
Jan 13, 7:10 PM local: Adelaide Strikers vs Hobart Hurricanes at Adelaide Oval
The Strikers have risen on the back of the improving form of Mahela Jayawardene and the brilliance of Travis Head to find themselves on top of the table. However it’s not just their batting which is doing the damage. Adil Rashid continues to baffle opponents with his guile and leads the tournament for the most wickets this season.
This will be the final game for Hurricanes which comes on the heels of their opening game in this round. If they defeat the Scorchers then another win here would most likely be enough to secure a finals berth. Their net run rate is so bad that they really require an extra win to make it. It looks a tough ask here against the form side of the competition.
Verdict: Back Strikers at odds of $1.65 at William Hill
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