THE EDGE: The Edge previews the BBL match between Melbourne Stars v Sydney Sixers with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
Melbourne Stars v Sydney Sixers
MATCH OVERVIEW:
The Big Bash action continues on Betdaq Betting Exchange with another cracker on Saturday morning. Melbourne Stars take on Sydney Sixers with both sides looking to lock in their place in the playoffs. Over the past few days we have definitely had a top four and bottom four situation; these two are on the edge of the top four but they’ll both be eying up that second spot for the golden ticket playoff position. I don’t see them finishing ahead of Brisbane Heat or Perth Scorchers, but we’re at the business end now!
I also have to say I really didn’t expect to see Melbourne Stars do as well as they have done. They finished bottom of the table last season and were terrible in general. They lost their opening three games this season and it looked like more of the same again this season. However, they have rolled off four wins in a row – including a win against the Sydney Sixers too. Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis have played match winning knocks, and when they play well they carry the rest of the side. Everyone else seems to play well around them too. You don’t need me to tell you that they are absolutely key.
We know Sydney Sixers will bring a certain level of form into the game. They have been remarkably consistent over the last number of years, however they do come into this game without a win in a while. They’ve had two games abandoned and they’ve lost games either side to that – the rain hasn’t been their friend because Duckworth Lewis gave Brisbane Heat the win as they were three runs ahead when the rain arrived. This is an important game for both sides, but you’d still expect both to make the playoffs.
WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:
With the Boxing Day Test here, a tradition in Australia, we only have four Big Bash games here this season. We’ve had two, and there’s two to go. Melbourne Stars collapsed for 101 in the first game here and Perth Scorchers chased it down with 37 balls spare. While the Melbourne Derby was heavily effected by bad weather; Melbourne Renegades managed 97/7 off 14 overs and the Stars chased that down with 12 balls left. Maxwell finished the game with a strike rate of over 200.0. The MCG isn’t usually a high scoring venue with the massive boundaries, but I’d have an open mind – hard to have a set opinion on scoring conditions.
RECOMMENDED BET:
It’s no surprise that we have a very even market here. Both sides have their pros and cons. However, this game seems to arrive at a good time for Melbourne Stars, and they are worth backing at 2.0 in my opinion. Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis have been in superb form and as I said above, that just carries the whole side. The time they beat the Sixers earlier in the tournament, it was actually the others that carried them – that was at the start of their winning run. The Sixers middle order has been letting them down though, and we might see a similar situation here.
The Edge Says:
Two points win Melbourne Stars to beat Sydney Sixers at 2.0 with Betdaq Exchange
View the market here -> https://betdaq.biz/StaSix
IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:
I said above I am unsure on conditions here; it’s hard to get a feel of what is actually a par score this season from the opening two games. As we know, the MCG isn’t a cricket only venue so I would keep an open mind on conditions. However, in years gone by we haven’t saw huge scores here with the massive boundaries. I would bowl first if given the option, but I feel the biggest edge in-play might be getting against the Sixers middle order. I’m also keen to support Glenn Maxwell – it just feels a good time to support Maxwell who looks full of confidence.
