Seventh plays eighth to kick off a massive weekend of Big Bash action, with the Brisbane Heat hosting the Sydney Thunder at the Gabba.
Head to Head
The Heat are very short here, but it’s difficult to make a case for the Thunder given how their season has played out.
Brisbane have been straightforward to read in BBL 15, winning all three of their matches at home and losing all four on the road. A return to the Gabba, combined with the return of Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne, shapes as the ideal scenario as they look to keep their finals hopes alive.
The Thunder have been the competition’s weakest side this season, sitting at 1-6 and coming off four straight defeats. They won’t be boosted by any Test returns and are likely to go in unchanged once again.
The Heat also hold a strong historical edge, winning 14 of the 21 meetings between the two sides, including the last four in a row.
Their only potential avenue to an upset is batting second, with the chasing team winning seven of the last eight matches at the Gabba.
Brisbane should be too strong here, although at this price the head-to-head only appeals if they find themselves in the preferred chasing role.
Best Bet
Take your pick of Khawaja and Labuschagne here, but Uzzie gets the nod as the stronger option against spin, which features heavily in the Thunder attack. He’s also been reliable at the Gabba, clearing 25 runs in eight of his 14 innings at the venue.
Value Bet
There isn’t a great deal of value on offer here, but Gilkes stands out at the price. Alongside David Warner, he’s been one of Sydney’s most consistent batters this season, with both players sitting inside the top ten for total runs. Gilkes at $5.50 compared to Warner at $3.25 looks slightly mispriced.
Same Game Multi
Heat H2H / Khawaja & Labuschagne 20+ Runs / Sams 1+ Wicket
