Both the team comes with defeat in their previous match and will be up against each other at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney on 27th December.
Sydney Sixers being at the 5th position of BBL points table has won 1 match out of the 2 matches they played. The last time when the team played they had to absorb defeat against the Sydney Thunders, thanks to the player of the match performance by Jos Butler. But the team would be happy with the all-round performance of Tom Curran who took 3 wickets and played a marvelous inning of 62 runs in 42 balls, Sean Abbott also showcases some batting with a 35 run inning but was expensive with the bowling. The Sixers top order miserably failed to perform in both matches and a lot would depend on Englishmen Joe Denly and captain Moises Henriques who will be key for the batting against the Melbourne Stars. The bowling department of the team looks good with consistent performance of Aussie spinner Steve O’Keeffe who has been supported by Ben Dwarshuis, Sean Abbott and Tom Curran.
Sydney Sixers have added young off-spinner Ben Manenti in place of Daniel Fallin’s in the 13 men squad.
Whereas the Glenn Maxwell’s Melbourne Stars is at the 7th position in BBL ladder with continuous poor performance and with two defeats out of two matches they played so far against Sydney Thunders and Hobart Hurricanes. Although the first match against Sydney Thunders was rain affected so the performance of the team cannot be judged but, the opener Travis Dean and Ben Dunk has failed to provide a good start to the team in both games, whereas in the middle order Nick Larkins and Maxwell played decent knocks of 45 and 47 respectively in the previous match against Hobart Hurricanes. The team has the best spin duo of Zampa and Sandeep Laminchane who are taking the majority of the wickets with the total of 7 wickets in 2 matches they played. Dwayne Bravo needs to work his magic in death over for his side to do well. The team will be boosted by the inclusion of Peter Handscomb who has been released for this match and will provide stability and experience to the batting line-up. He will probably be slotted as an opener in the place of Travis Dean.
Melbourne Stars have added Peter Handscomb in place of Travis Dean in the 13 men squad.
Probable Line-ups :
Sydney Sixers:- Joe Denly, Jack Edwards, Daniel Hughes, Moises Henriques [C], Jordan Silk, Josh Philippe [Wk], Justin Avendano/ Ben Manenti, Tom Curran, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Steve O’Keffee.
Melbourne Stars:- Ben Dunk, Peter Handscomb [Wk], Nick Larkin, Glenn Maxwell [C], Marcus Stoinis, Dwayne Bravo, Evan Gulbis, Adam Zampa, Scott Boland, Sandeep Lamichhane, Jackson Bird.
My Playerzpot XI
PlayerzPot Prediction:
Even both teams came from a loss in the previous matches but the pressure will be on the Melbourne Stars as they would be looking to register their 1st win of the tournament
