The sixth-placed 2-3 Brisbane Heat look to hand the Melbourne Stars their first loss of the season at the Gabba on Friday night.
Head to Head
There’s no value at this price, but the Stars are white-hot this season and should remain unbeaten here.
Melbourne have been imperious through their four-game winning streak, rarely looking troubled. They’ve also enjoyed a slice of luck by winning all four tosses, so this price becomes far less appealing if they are required to bat first. Including their late-season run in BBL 14, the Stars have now won nine of their last 10 matches.
The Heat’s batting has been impressive, most notably chasing down 257 against the Scorchers, but their bowling has been extremely expensive. They’ve conceded totals of 212, 256, 193, 172 and 125 (in 14 overs), and now lose star recruit Shaheen Shah Afridi, leaving their bowling stocks thin.
The Stars will be without Joe Clarke due to injury, but their top seven has been firing all season and should be able to cover his absence.
The visitors should win this, particularly if they are chasing, with the team batting second winning six of the last seven at the Gabba. If the Stars bat first, it may pay to keep your powder dry on the head-to-head.
Best Bet
Stoinis has only been required to bat twice this season but is yet to be dismissed, posting unbeaten scores of 62 and 32. He could earn a promotion with Clarke sidelined, and if so, shapes as a major threat on a flat deck against a weak bowling attack. He’s also scored 25+ in four of his last five matches against the Heat.
Value Bet
Maxwell looked in great touch last time out, finishing 39* against the Thunder in Canberra. Like Stoinis, he could do serious damage on a batting-friendly surface against a depleted Heat attack, and the century is very much in play.
Same Game Multi
Stars H2H (if chasing) / Stoinis & Maxwell 20+ Runs / Renshaw 10+ Runs
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