THE Big Bash League has reached the half way stage and as we outlined a week ago, it is the competition’s top bowling outfits who lead the way.
Adelaide Strikers’ ($4.50 tournament winners with Bet 365) win over Sydney Thunder catapulted them to the top of the table on net run rate, one of four teams level on four wins apiece. Their batting remains inconsistent but with the ball, Rashid Khan has staked his claim as the world’s best T20 spinner while veteran Peter Siddle looks to have added a few tricks to his repertoire.
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Up there with them are three sides who all hold genuine claims to be considered as tournament-winning contenders:
- Favourites the Melbourne Renegades ($3.50 Bet 365), who are the best and most balanced side in the competition;
- The enigmatic Brisbane Heat ($5.00 Bet 365) who have become more consistent with the ball to match their explosive batting; and
- Historically the BBL’s best ever team, the Perth Scorchers ($5.00 Bet 365), who have proven their remarkable depth in the face of serious injury and unavailability issues
But Australian ODI selections have thrown a spanner in the works, with each of the Renegades (Finch) and Heat (Lynn) losing their best and most destructive batsman for the business end of the tournament. As far at the Scorchers are concerned, their already stretched pace stocks have taken a double hit with the tournament’s leading bowler Andrew Tye and young gun Jhye Richardson also called up.
It is for that reason that, at the tournament’s half-way stage, we are suggesting a 1 unit bet on the Adelaide Strikers to win the tournament. They will lose their captain Travis Head to the ODI set up and while a big loss, with all due respect the impact should be far less. Importantly, their bowling attack remains untouched and should the likes of Jake Weatherald and Jake Lehmann provide greater support to Alex Carey and Colin Ingram with the bat, they look a formidable unit.
We have a one unit bet on the Renegades at $6.50 pre-tournament still alive, while our 0.75 unit play at the Melbourne Stars looks a likely write off at this stage. The Heat and Scorchers have more than solid claims for victory, but there’s something about the Strikers this year.
Suggested futures bet: Adelaide Strikers to win the Big Bash League – 1 unit @ $4.50 (Bet 365)
* The above bet was posted & price correct on Monday 8/1/18 *
We’ll also be continuing our match-by-match bets in Week 4 below, so be sure to check back each day for the latest plays.
Match 21 – Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Sixers at Blundstone Arena (8/1/18)
Bet: Hobart Hurricanes highest six overs score – 1.5 units @ $1.80 (various)
Match 22 – Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Renegades at the WACA (8/1/18)
Bet: Perth Scorchers highest opening partnership – 1 unit @ $2.04 (Sportsbet)
Match 23 – Adelaide Strikers v Melbourne Stars at Adelaide Oval (9/1/18)
Bet: Adelaide Strikers win – 1.5 units win @ $1.80 (Bet 365)
Bet: P Handscomb Melbourne Stars high bat – 0.5 units @ $7.00 (Ladbrokes)
Match 24 – Brisbane Heat v Hobart Hurricanes at the Gabba (10/1/18)
Bet: Hobart Hurricanes win – 1 unit @ $2.30 (Bet 365)
Bet: B Cutting Brisbane Heat high bat: 0.5 units @ $13 (Bet 365)
Match 25 – Sydney Thunder v Perth Scorchers at Spotless Stadium (11/1/18)
Bet: Sydney Thunder win – 1 unit @ $2.20 (various – bet posted midday 10/1/18)
Bet: U Khawaja Sydney Thunder high bat – 1 unit @ $3.75 (various)
Match 26 – Melbourne Renegades v Melbourne Stars at Etihad Stadium
Bet: Melbourne Stars win: 1 unit @ $2.06 (Pinnacle)
Match 27 – Adelaide Strikers v Perth Scorchers
Bet: Scorchers: 1 unit @ $2.30 (Bet365)
Match 28 – Sydney Sixers v Sydney Thunder
Bet: Sixers win: 1 unit @ $2.00 (Ladbrokes)
RESULTS: Matches 1-26
51.5 units outlay, 67.39 units return, 15.89 units profit, 31% POT