THE EDGE: The Edge previews 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 as top meet bottom on Thursday morning! Melbourne Stars host Sydney Sixers with both sides having very mixed fortunes this season. Sydney Sixers have four wins from five completed games and they are heading for the playoffs, while Melbourne Stars have struggled with just two wins from seven games. We’re at the point in the Big Bash now when some International stars pack up and head off to the T20 leagues in South Africa and the UAE for more money, so over the course of the next few days sides will be hoping for some changes.
Melbourne Stars certainly need some changes anyway! They are heading for the wooden spoon at the moment, although Adelaide Strikers haven’t been much better. Sydney Sixers have basically been their usual consistent side. They did collapse in their last completed game against the Hobart Hurricanes but that doesn’t happen often. What you would say about the Sydney Sixers is that they never really have a major star on their books; but they just do everything well and everyone knows their role. They have some excellent players, but not many of them would be getting gigs at the IPL for example. Some years this has helped because while other sides have lost their big players, the Sixers have stayed settled.
The positive thing to say about Melbourne Stars is that they have put back-to-back wins together after opening with five straight losses. From that point of view, confidence must be a lot better and one of those wins was the Melbourne Derby here too. This should be a good game!
WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:
This is the third game at the MCG this Big Bash. Scoring conditions have been pretty good thus far – the first inning scores have been 162/6 (chased) and 168/7 (chased). The MCG is a massive playing field, so we don’t see too many sixes here; from that point of view sometimes it’s better to bat first given it’s harder to ease run rate pressure with a big shot in the chase. However, we did see lots of sixes in the Melbourne Derby! We had a very flat wicket here for the Boxing Day Test and as I said prior to the Melbourne Derby, good batting conditions were expected after that. We should see more runs here.
RECOMMENDED BET:
It’s not a surprise to see Sydney Sixers as favourites here. They have played much better cricket over all compared to the Stars this season; as I said the main positive for the Stars is they come into this game off the back-to-back wins. When I look at the Stars I always feel that they need one of their big batters to win the game for them – that has happened in their last two games. Ben Duckett and Marcus Stoinis have lead the way – this game is interesting with them clearly in form. The Sixers collapsed recently too, but that doesn’t happen them often. I feel a small bet on the home side here is a worthy investment at 2.12. I’d have this one 50/50 given the recent knocks from key players.
The Edge Says:
One point win Melbourne Stars to beat Sydney Sixers at 2.12 with https://b
View the market here -> https://betdaq.biz/StrSix
IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:
It paid to support both batting sides in the Melbourne Derby here and I feel the same strategy will work here. I’d expect a pretty solid first innings score of 165+ and then it might pay to switch to the chasing side. With some good knocks from the Stars key batters recently, in my opinion it’ll pay to support them while in form. I think this is a game where you want to focus on looking for trades on either batting side rather than the bowling side in both innings.
