Big Bash League (BBL14) Thunder vs Stars Betting Tips

The red-hot Melbourne Stars travel to Western Sydney to face the Sydney Thunderlooking to keep their fairytale season alive. Only one team will advance to the Challenger to play for a spot in the final, in what should be a cracking contest. Jack Tobin has you covered with a full match preview, best bet, and prop bet below!

BBL14 The Eliminator Betting Tips

Engie Stadium, Wednesday 22nd January, 7:30pm AEDT

Sydney Thunder

Predicted XI: David Warner, Ollie Davies, Hugh Weibgen, Sam Billings, Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, George Garton, Tanveer Sangha, Nathan McAndrew, Tom Andrews, Mohammad Hasnain

The Thunder have gone about their business quietly in BBL14, but have overcome some major injury issues to find their way into third spot with five wins, three losses and two washouts. With the impact spin has had at Engie Stadium this season, Tanveer Sangha should come back into the lineup, while Ollie Davies looks set to replace Sam Konstas.

David Warner has shouldered the load with the bat, scoring 347 runs this season at an average of 57.66, which has him second in the leading run scorers this season. Sam Billings (185 runs) is the only other Thunder player with more than 125 runs in BBL144. The Thunder have been crippled by season ending injuries to Cameron Bancroft and Daniel Sams who were crucial parts of the batting unit.

With the ball Chris Green leads the way with 11 wickets for the Thunder, followed by Wes Agar (9 wickets) and Lockie Ferguson (8 wickets). Ferguson is no longer with the side after going to the IL20, so there will be a lot of pressure on Tanveer Sangha and Tom Andrews to perform alongside Green.

Melbourne Stars

Predicted XI: Tom Rogers, Sam Harper, Jonathan Merlo, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Hilton Cartwright, Tom Curran, Joel Paris, Usama Mir, Mark Steketee, Peter Siddle

The Stars will be forced into at least one change with Beau Webster heading to Sri Lanka with the Test team. Jonathan Merlo and replacement signing Peter Handscomb look the front runners to come into the eleven. It could force Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell to slide further up the order, which wouldn’t be ideal given how good they’ve been at 4, 5 and 6 between them.

After a loss to the Thunder on December 15 the Stars fell to 0-5 and their season looked dead and buried. Fast forward 38 days the Stars will play in the finals after winning five straight games. The smashed the Hurricanes in the final game of the regular season to book their place in the finals, thanks to Glenn Maxwell’s stunning 72* off 36.

An unheralded part of the Stars resurgence has been their brilliant form with the ball over their last five games. Mark Steketee (15 wickets, ranked 3rd in BBL14), Peter Siddle (11 wickets, ranked 11th) Joel Paris (9 wickets, ranked 16th) and Usama Mir (9 wickets, ranked 16th) have been outstanding in the second half of the season.

Match Prediction

The Stars have the talent and depth that is stronger than the Thunder as well as being in better form, but can they adapt to the conditions at Engie Stadium? The Thunder’s last game at home saw spin dominate, with Green (3/13), Sangha (1/18) and Andrews (1/20) combining for 6/51 off 11 overs. If the Stars can limit the influence of spin, they will go a long way towards winning the game, and they have good players of spin in Maxwell and Stoinis through the middle.

The Stars bowling attack is currently way more potent than the Thunder’s and that is where the difference will be in this fixture. Steketee, Siddle and Paris have been red hot since the second game of the season, while Usama Mir and Stoinis have provided handy performances throughout. The Stars will ride their wave of momentum to the Challenger.

Melbourne Stars to Win

$1.68 (1.5 Units)

Prop Bet

Mark Steketee has been one of the biggest revelations of BBL14, absolutely dominating in the second half of the season. In just 5 games Steketee has taken 15 wickets at an average of 8.60, with an economy of 6.97, absolutely ludicrous numbers. Steketee has taken figures of 4/24, 5/17, 3/14, 1/32 and 2/42, and the Stars have won every game he has played in.