The final BBL clash of the year should be a comfortable victory for the Strikers at home against the Stars.
Best Bet
The Strikers are the more talented and more consistent squad and should record a big victory at home.
Adelaide have stamped themselves as a leading title contender in BBL 12 following their 3-2 start which included a great performance in a narrow defeat to the Scorchers in Perth on Boxing Day. Matt Short and a resurgent Chris Lynn are leading the way with the bat while Henry Thornton and Wes Agar have been brilliant with the ball.
The Stars have been the typical Stars. Plenty of promise but little delivered. They sit 7th on the table with just one win from five games. Granted he battled through Covid in his opening couple of games, but this team badly needs Marcus Stoinis to fire if they are to turn their season around. He’s hit 14 runs from four innings and taken a combined 2/79 from seven overs bowling.
The Strikers have won seven straight at home and the Stars have lost seven straight at Adelaide Oval. Expect a very one-sided game.
Next Best
Matt Short is coming off two quiet games but importantly returns home tonight where he has dominated this season.
Short has whacked 149 runs from two innings at Adelaide Oval and just 28 from three innings on the road. He’s scored 25+ runs in six straight at home too.
Great bet to pass his runs line, for Strikers Hi Bat and for Player of the Match, given he’s also taken five wickets in his last two games.
Value Bet
Henry Thomas Raphael James York Thornton (yes, that’s his full name) is coming off a couple of quieter games but still remains the BBL’s leading wicket-taker with 14 from just 17.5 overs bowled.
He’s taken 2+ wickets in 5 of his last 6 games and 4+ in 2 of his last 4 games at Adelaide Oval. He could rip through this brittle Stars batting card. 4+ wickets at $10 looks value too.
Same Game Multi
Strikers H2H / M.Short 20+ runs / H.Thornton 2+ wickets
