BIG BASH: Our cricket tipster The Edge previews Friday’s Big Bash eliminator between Brisbane Heat v Adelaide Strikers with a recommended BETDAQ bet.


MATCH OVERVIEW:

After 56 games and over six weeks of action, the Big Bash Playoffs start on Friday morning! We start with the Eliminator with Brisbane Heat taking on Adelaide Strikers at The Gabba. After finishing fourth and fifth in the table, these two have the most work to do over the next couple of days – but they will be happy to be here! Brisbane Heat moved up the table with a final day with over Perth Scorchers. The fact they have been able to get Labuschagne in the team after playing for Australia is a massive boost – indeed he scored 46 runs off 38 balls in the win against Perth. Chris Lynn also scored a half century in that game and if they stay in form they will be hard to beat.

Adelaide Strikers have been the classic mid-table side and that’s where the finished. They finished the group stages with two wins from their final three games and that was enough in a very crowded race for the Playoffs! One of those wins came against Brisbane Heat at the Adelaide Oval – they won by 82 runs that day after scoring 197/5 and then bowling the Heat out for 115. Adelaide does given an advantage to the team batting first however, and the Heat were without Labuschagne.

The Heat started the tournament very badly, but they have found form. Chris Lynn is obviously huge at the top of the order, and now Labuschagne too. However they don’t have much talent after them and the Strikers will know they have to get them early if they want to win. We should have a great game!


WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:

As I have noted in my previews, the pitch at The Gabba hasn’t been the road it once was and we have seen that at times this season. We haven’t had the same volume of cricket here this season because of Covid19 and the ground hosted International cricket too. We have had five games here however, with the first inning scores reading: 150/6 (won by 2 runs), 148/7 (chased), 150 All Out (won by 1 run), 165/8 (chased) and 174/8 (chased). You could say the pitch has improved throughout the tournament looking at those scores but in a knockout game I would bat first and aim for 170. That will be a tough chase under the pressure.


RECOMMENDED BET:

I fully take on board that Brisbane Heat have come into form towards the end of the tournament and that has been driven by Lynn and now Labuschagne helps massively. I still expect a very close game here however and I would have the Adelaide Strikers a shade of odds on. I feel this is only a small value play, so stakes should be kept to a minimum but the 2.0 on the Strikers is worth taking. Alex Carey and co took the Heat bowlers to the cleaners recently and if they can get Lynn early too then they will be well on their way to winning.

The Edge Says:
One point win Adelaide Strikers to beat Brisbane Heat at 2.0 on BETDAQ Betting Exchange

View the market here -> http://bit.ly/BDQBriAde


IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:

With the odds so close together for this one, we should have a good game for trading on BETDAQ Betting Exchange. The openers are very important for both sides, and I would suggest there’s more chance of an early wicket given conditions than supporting the batting side. You’ll get huge ticks for getting Lynn out, and then if you can get Labuschagne too we’ll see the Strikers heavy odds on. The problem? Lynn can move the market very quickly against you! I would suggest checking out conditions with the new ball, and if there’s a bit of movement it’s worth having a small trade on the bowling side. The Strikers openers will be worth a lot of ticks too.

I’d be very keen to get against the Heat tail as they have been poor this season. I don’t see any advantage to batting first or chasing here looking at the scores this season. Perhaps you’d say to bat first given it’s a knockout, but that isn’t exactly an angle for in-running trading from the start. I would focus on some player trades here, and go with the momentum.


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