THE EDGE: Our cricket tipster The Edge previews Saturday’s Big Bash Final between Perth Scorchers v Brisbane Heat with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
Perth Scorchers v Brisbane Heat
MATCH OVERVIEW:
It’s time for the Big Bash Final on BETDAQ Betting Exchange as Perth Scorchers meet Brisbane Heat on Saturday morning! Brisbane Heat surprised everyone, including me, when they romped home against Sydney Sixers on Thursday morning – they suffered some huge losses to their squad with the Aussie Test side leaving for India but their bowlers won the day as they blew Sydney Sixers away in the first innings and easily chased down 116/9.
We have a fascinating Final here. Perth Scorchers have been the best team in the tournament – they topped the table and were impressive in the Qualifier. Their batting and bowling has fired, and they all look settled too. However, Brisbane Heat have got here the hard way. They have come through three do-or-die games in the playoffs and everything seems to be working well. You could say they got a little lucky to be ahead on Duckworth Lewis when the rain arrived in the Eliminator but they still set Sydney Thunder 203/5 which is clearly impressive. Since then their bowlers have lead the way, and the batters have finished the games off.
Perth Scorchers only lost three games in the group stage, which obviously means they recorded two wins over Brisbane Heat. They actually played each other back-to-back at the start of January, and the Scorchers hammered them twice. They won by seven and eight wickets, with 21 and 22 balls to spare. Brisbane Heat might be wise to bowl first this time if they won the toss – just to change things up. Perth Scorchers are going to come into the game as the heavy favourites, but with that comes pressure!
WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:
Thankfully the weather forecast looks good for the Final. Perth deserve to have home advantage for the Final because they have been so good right throughout the tournament, and they have an excellent record here. They have won seven of their eight games here, and obviously know conditions very well. The first inning score here have been, in order of game played: 155/9 (won), 133/7 (chased), 135 all out (chased), 142/9 (chased), 171/9 (chased), 146/9 (chased), 212/5 (won) and 151/8 (chased). I think you really have to bowl first if you win the toss here. Batting has definitely got easier as the tournament has gone on, and I would expect very good batting conditions.
RECOMMENDED BET:
Perth Scorchers are massive favourites here. They will go off at around 1.4 to win this game, and I believe that is the shortest price of any team in the tournament. I know Brisbane Heat have lost three massive players as the Aussie Test side has departed for the Indian tour, but should we have such a heavy favourite in T20? I’m not sure. I know there’s a gulf in class between the sides here, but the Heat bowling did well against the Sixers and they are worth a small bet here at 3.3 or bigger. I know the Scorchers have been top class, so let’s keep stakes small here but Heat have come through the playoffs well and I believe they offer value at the odds.
The Edge Says:
One point win Brisbane Heat to beat Perth Scorchers at 3.3 with Betdaq Exchange
View the market here -> https://betdaq.biz/BBLFin
IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:
Because Perth Scorchers are such heavy favourites, we do have an interesting market here. If Brisbane Heat can win the toss and bowl first, we might easily see the sides get a lot closer in the market. I feel that there has been a big edge in batting second here, so getting on the chasing side seems wise. Even when we saw Perth Scorchers score 212/5 the Melbourne Renegades scored over 200 in the chase, just falling short. I wouldn’t stay on the Brisbane Heat batting for long if they bat first – especially with their test players gone, and really we’re hoping the Heat bowl first to make the game more competitive.
