The reigning champions host the hapless Melbourne Stars at the Gabba in the second leg of the Big Bash double header on New Year’s Day.
Head to Head
It’s tough to understand how this market is so close with the Stars coming off eight straight losses.
The perennial underachievers yet again find themselves anchored to the bottom of the table, with the Stars losing each of their five games this season. They’ve also lost four straight at the Gabba.
The Heat are coming off two straight losses but they have come against arguably the two best teams in the competition in the Scorchers and Sixers. They will be buoyed by the return of Michael Neser here, once again giving them a formidable pace trio with Spencer Johnson and Xavier Bartlett.
The Stars lose Tom Curran and Beau Webster but regain Tom Rogers and English international Dan Lawrence.
The Heat have won seven of their last eight at home and should be comfortable victors here.
Best Bet
McSweeney has rebounded from his Test axing in fine style, scoring 78*, 8 and 34 in three knocks. He’s passed 25 in four of his last five BBL knocks, including his last three at the Gabba.
Value Bet
The Kiwi is yet to fire in BBL 14 but he’s got a ridiculous record against the Stars, averaging 79 from five knocks with three straight 40+ scores. He scored 99* against them in his only game against them last season. Worth a throw for player of the match ($9.50) too.
Same Game Multi
Heat H2H / McSweeney 20+ Runs / Johnson & Bartlett 1+ Wickets
