Big Bash League 2019 Match 46, Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Thunder: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

Big Bash League 2019 Match 46, Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Thunder: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

Sydney Thunder Perth Scorchers

Perth Scorchers will host Sydney Thunder for Match 46 of the 2019 BBL, at Perth Stadium. After 11 matches apiece, the teams are more or less evenly matched, the Thunder (11 points) just ahead of the Scorchers (10) after securing a point from an abandoned match. The two teams occupy the fourth and fifth places respectively, but with Brisbane Heat also on 10 points, they can be far from complacent.

The Scorchers are coming off a 10-run defeat against table toppers Melbourne Stars. Matthew Kelly (4-0-27-3) helped restrict the Stars to 141/6 that day, but barring Cameron Bancroft (32 in 44 balls), no other Scorchers batsman went past 20. They eventually finished on 131/9.

There was no such problem for the Thunder, who bowled out Sydney Sixers for 76 in a match reduced to 16 overs. Daniel Sams led the rout with 3-0-14-3, while Chris Morris had 3.5-0-12-2. The Thunder then reached 28/2 in 5.3 overs, 3 ahead of the DLS par score, following which no further play was possible.

The teams are evenly matched, though the Scorchers probably hold a slight advantage as hosts.

Head to head

This has been a close contest, with the Scorchers holding a slender (5-4) lead.

Key players

Josh Inglis (Perth Scorchers): A tournament strike rate of 158, combined with some excellent glovework, makes Inglis one of Perth’s most important players here. They will expect yet another rollicking start from him.

Daniel Sams (Sydney Thunder): The leading wicket-taker of the edition by some distance, Sams has been prolific throughout the tournament, rising to the challenge every time. The Scorchers will be wary of his extra bounce on the Perth pitch.

Likely XIs

Perth Scorchers: Josh Inglis (wk), Liam Livingstone, Cameron Bancroft, Mitchell Marsh (c), Kurtis Patterson, Tim David, Chris Green, Chris Jordan, Jhye Richardson, Matthew Kelly, Fawad Ahmed.

Sydney Thunder: Usman Khawaja, Alex Hales, Callum Ferguson (c), Alex Ross, Chris Morris, Jay Lenton (wk), Daniel Sams, Nathan McAndrew, Liam Bowe, Gurinder Sandhu, Brendan Doggett.