Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Thunder match prediction
Brisbane Heat and Sydney Thunder will take on each other in Big Bash League’s first encounter at the Gabba in Brisbane on December 17.
Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Thunder opens the Big Bash League season this year and promises to be a fine battle of sorts. With few of the players exchanging loyalties, the game attracts a lot of eyeballs. Well it did to me and I decided to sit down to analyse the data, so that you put your money in the game and multiply it by just sitting at home.
Chris Lynn - Bowlers biggest fear
Chris Lynn to be top scorer for Brisbane @3.00
For me, it was an obvious choice for more reasons than one. Chris Lynn, the destructor of the bowlers early in the innings, has been in superb form lately, scoring a mammoth 374 runs for Maratha Arabians in the Abu Dhabi T10 League. With 89, 61 and 91* being some of his scores in the T10 league, one can guess the capability that he has as an opener and at Gabba, well, it can be an innings worth watching. Starting from the likes of Max Bryant to Ben Cutting and Brendon McCullum, the Gabba has seen opening batsmen dominating and teams finishing with upwards of 175 in the last four years. If that add hopes, then Lynn’s form against Sydney Thunder will make you wonder. In the nine matches that the Queensland cricketer has played against the team from New South Wales capital, he has a total of 427 runs at an average of 71.17 and an S/R of 175.00. Makes you wonder? Well, certainly, these are mind-boggling stats by all means and that should convince you to go for this high-risk yet heavily rewarding, bet.
Explosive Alex Hales to bat for Sydney Thunder
Alex Hales to top-score for Sydney Thunder @3.75
Sydney Thunder have taken a major step of sorts this year, bringing in Alex Hales whilst choosing to not re-sign the dangerous Jos Buttler. They still have Chris Green and Usman Khawaja in their ranks, but as of now, it is time for the Hales show. The English batsman, who is out of favour in the national team, recently hit a stunning unbeaten 97 against Paarl Rocks in the Mzanzi Super League, and being an explosive opener, he can prove to be the ideal candidate for the Thunder at the Heat’s den. While the Middlesex-born batsman is a pro against short-bowling, and in condition like Gabba, where fast bowlers average 26, he must be the visitors’ answer to Heat’s Banton-Lynn partnership. Although this will be Hales’ first gig at the Big Bash League, he was in very good form in the Vitality Blast, scoring 418 runs at 38.00 and an S/R over 140. The stars have aligned for Hales, and I didn’t waste much time while going for the Englishman as the top-scorer for Sydney Thunder. What are you waiting for? Place the bet before the time runs out.
Fast left-armed bowler
Josh Lalor to be Brisbane Heat’s top bowler @4.33
Remember Josh Lalor? The left-arm seamer, who had a cracker of a season last year including a hat-trick? Picked by Barbados Tridents this year, he was parsimonious and picked wickets in regular intervals but he best shone when he bowled at the Gabba in the BBL. In 11 matches he represented the Heat last year, he had a total of 20 wickets at an average of 14.85. His familiarity with the venue is another factor that plays in his favour, and the home team would be banking on his Gabba experience to pay rich dividends come Tuesday. That aside, Lalor triumphs for the simple fact that left-arm medium fast bowlers have been stronger of the lot at the venue, with batsmen majorly getting out to them in every 25 balls. Also a gentle reminder that in his last 3 BBL games, two of which were played at the Gabba, he picked 3-wicket hauls. Good enough for you to go ahead and bet?
