THE EDGE: The Edge previews the BBL Challenger: Sydney Sixers v Sydney Thunder with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
Challenger: Sydney Sixers v Sydney Thunder
MATCH OVERVIEW:
It’s another Sydney Derby on BETDAQ Betting Exchange as the Sixers and the Thunder clash in the Big Bash Challenger! Hopefully we have better luck than last week when the sides met to decide who would finish in the top two but it was rained off – the Thunder needed to win that game to jump over the Sixers on net run rate. We have our massive clash now though, with a place in the Final against Hobart Hurricanes on the line. With Hobart Hurricanes topping the Group and the Sixers going into the Qualifier as underdogs; a lot of cricket fans would have expected them here.
The same can’t be said about the Thunder – they were underdogs for the Eliminator against the in-form Melbourne Stars, and they found themselves in a desperate situation at the innings break too. They could only managed 135/7 in 19 overs, but the Stars completely fluffed their lines in the chase. That 135 was the second lowest total ever defended in the Big Bash playoffs! The batters will certainly be happier at the SCG rather than the Sydney Showground stadium which looked tricky to bat on. Hopefully we see as much drama as when the sides met very early in the tournament with the Sixers winning off the final ball!
The Sixers lost three key wickets very early against Hobart Hurricanes, and they did well to get as close as they did in the end. It will be interesting to see how the Thunder bowlers perform here; obviously the spinners did all the damage on Wednesday but we’re going to have different conditions here. A fascinating game awaits!
WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:
As I said above, the batters will be pleased to be playing at the SCG rather than the Showground Stadium. Conditions have been very good for batting here with some high scores – the first inning totals have been 169/7 (chased), 194/9 (chased) and 220/3 (won). That 194 was chased with 11 balls remaining, and then despite the 220 winning, Perth Scorchers managed to get 206 in the second innings. With the Sydney Derby rained off here, we haven’t had a Big Bash game since the 11th of January so I would confirm conditions at the start, but we should expect a high scoring game here.
RECOMMENDED BET:
Both sides were very strong in the tournament, and they do have two very similar profiles. It’s not a surprise to see Sydney Sixers as the favourites; they are trading 1.89. That price is out a little from when the sides were due to meet here last week – the Sixers were trading 1.85 prior to that game. It’s a little different too because the Sixers had Steve Smith in the batting line-up – now that’s changed given how close the Sri Lanka series is for Australia. The same applies to Sam Konstas for the Thunder though. On balance though, I still feel that the Sixers have a better batting line-up, especially middle-order, and I’m happy with a small bet at 1.89.
The Edge Says:
One point win Sydney Sixers to beat Sydney Thunder at 1.89 with Betdaq Betting Exchange
View the market here -> https://betdaq.biz/SxrThn
IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:
With the scores here this season, once we confirm conditions are the same, this is definitely a game where you want to be supporting the batting side in both innings. It’s not a game to go looking for trades on either bowling side because it wouldn’t be a surprise to see 200+ scored in both innings. From a market movement point of view, I think we’ll see the most success supporting the Sixers middle order.
