Big Bash League 2019 Match 12, Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Sixers: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

Perth Scorchers are all set to host Sydney Sixers at home on December 26. With both teams having a marginal difference in NRR, an interesting encounter can be expected.

Sydney Sixers won only one match out of the three they were part of in this edition. This is true for Perth Scorchers as well. The Sixers are at sixth place followed by the Scorchers at seventh, thanks to better Net Run Rate. The only advantage that the Sixers have is that they already defeated the Scorchers in their opening game.

Perth Scorchers after their first loss, geared up in the second one against Melbourne Renegades to record their first win of the season. They successfully defended 196 runs as the Renegades fell short of 11 runs. The next fixture saw Perth Scorchers being defeated by Adelaide Strikers by 15 runs (D/L method) while chasing 199 runs. Once again it was a fantabulous display by the Scorchers batters who had to surrender to the brilliance of the Strikers bowlers after 8^th over. In this crucial face-off Perth Scorchers bowlers have to prove their mettle.

In the first match, Sydney Sixers beat Perth Scorchers in Sydney by eight wickets. Tom Curran (3/32) led the bowling department to restrict the Scorchers to a low score. The target of 132 runs was chased down in 15overs by Josh Philippe (81) and co. But that was it. After that Sydney Sixers lost two back to games against Hobart Hurricanes and Brisbane Heat. Against the Hurricanes the batsmen failed to deliver whereas against the Heat, it was the bowling unit. To win this match and increase the gap with Perth Scorchers, the Sixers have to perform as a team.

This is a golden opportunity for Perth Scorchers to take revenge in front of the home crowd. It will be a close match and both teams have to give hundred percent for an important win.

Key players

Mitchell Marsh (Perth Scorchers)- The captain played a gutsy innings to lead Perth Scorchers to their only win of the tournament so far. The player of the match against Melbourne Renegades tried his bit against Sydney Sixers as well. The sixth-ranked batter of the tournament can be a key performer for the Scorchers.

Josh Philippe (Sydney Sixers)– One of the mainstays of Sydney Sixers batting line-up is Josh Philippe. The third-ranked batsman of the tournament was the highest scorer for the team in two previous fixtures. If the Sixers have to do well in this game, Philippe must repeat his performance against Perth Scorchers.

Likely XIs

Perth Scorchers: Liam Livingstone, Josh Inglis (wk), Cameron Bancroft, Ashton Turner, Mitchell Marsh (c), Ashton Agar, Cameron Green, Chris Jordan, Jhye Richardson, Joel Paris, Fawad Ahmed.

Sydney Sixers: Josh Phillippe (wk), Daniel Hughes, James Vince, Moises Henriques (c), Jordan Silk, Hayden Kerr, Tom Curran, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Benjamin Manenti, Lloyd Pope.

Prediction

Perth Scorchers to win