Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Thunder match prediction
This will be a battle where the stakes are high, with both the teams having started their respective campaigns on a high. While the Strikers find themselves at the pole position with 7 points from 4 matches, the Thunders have bagged a total of 5 points from 4 matches, one of which produced no results. While the players have everything to play for, punters like us have everything to invest for and there’s a lot to be won. Where should you invest? We have all sorted for you. Just go through my analysis below.
Superstar Alex Hales has momentum
Alex Hales to hit more than 2.5 fours @ 1.90
Well, it is quite obvious for an explosive batsman like Alex Hales to turn on the heat in the top order, but you might ask why we can be assured that he’s going to hit at least 3 boundaries in the upcoming game. Few stats might help the cause. The Englishman has hit 14 fours in the last three matches for the Thunder this season, which is equal to 4.6 per game. Even in the first match against Strikers, which was eventually washed out, Hales was unbeaten on 10, but had already struck two fours.
The Brit has featured in 238 T20 games so far in his career and has hit a staggering 717 boundaries at an average of 3.01 per game. In 60 T20Is, he sent the ball to the ropes a total of 175 times, which almost 3 per game. In the Vitality Blast earlier this year, Hales managed to notch up 41 fours in 12 matches (3.41 per game). While in the Caribbean Premier League, he’s hit 17 fours in 6 matches (almost 3 per game). What are you waiting for? Just place the bet.
Few sixes in this game
Total sixes to be under 11.5 @ 1.83
Even though we haven’t seen too many sixes in the Big Bash League, but the two teams concerned have been weaker in the department compared to the others. In the six completed games that Adelaide Strikers and Sydney Thunder have been involved so far, only 3 have had more than 11 sixes. To our advantage, Sydney Thunder have hit a total of 12 sixes in four matches (3 per game). While the Strikers have piled up 17 maximums in as many matches at an average of 4.25 per game.
If we look at how other teams have fared, the case tilts in favour of us even further. Melbourne Renegades struck 19 sixes in four matches (4.75 on average), Perth Scorchers racked up 21 sixes in 3 matches (7 on average), Perth Scorchers with 28 sixes from 4 matches (7 on average) and then comes Brisbane Heat, having struck 28 sixes in just 3 matches (9.33 on average). This now makes it clear that the Strikers and Thunder have been below par in terms of big hitting and it looks like a distant reality that we are going to have more than 11.5 sixes in the match, making this a winning bet.
The Afghan counquers Big Bash League
Rashid Khan to be Adelaide Strikers top bowler @ 3.0
The Afghan has already made a name in the Indian Premier League and is now set to conquer the Big Bash League as well. His quick-fire 25 runs and a match winning 2/15 in the previous match was pure class. Rashid’s bowling figures in the last 3 matches this season – 2/15, 1/23, 3/40. He was the pick of the bowlers on two occasions. The leggy is Strikers’ top bowlers this season with 6 wickets in just 4 matches (one of them was washed out). But, we are not willing to back him up based on just these performances.
He is by fare one of the most lethal players in T20 cricket right now. Rashid has taken a remarkable 84 wickets at an average of 12.52 in just 45 T20 Internationals. His overall T20 records are also impressive having scalped 278 times in 197 appearances. No doubt we are heading for another Rashid Khan show this week and I have already placed by bet. Make sure you do it too, because your investment will get multiplied three times the value!
Stats Corner
***Alex Hales has hit 14 boundaries in the last 3 matches
***Adelaide Strikers and Sydney Thunder have just hit 4.25 and 3 sixes per game on average this season
***Rashid Khan is Adelaide’s top bowler this season
My Picks
Alex Hales to hit more than 2.5 fours @ 1.90
Total sixes to be under 11.5 @ 1.83
Rashid Khan to be Adelaide Strikers top bowler @ 3.0
