Big Bash League 2019 Match 48, Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Stars: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

A day after the two bottom-placed sides in the league clashed, it’s the turn of the top three – Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Stars will hope to one up the other when they meet at the Adelaide Oval.

Given the state of the table, however, there is unlikely to be more tangible results apart from a psychological advantage heading into the knockouts. The Stars are well and truly setting the pace, with 20 points in 12 matches, a five-point lead over the second-placed Sydney Sixers and a big seven-point gap with the Strikers.

The real winner if Adelaide wins this clash will be the Sixers. They’ll be able to close their gap on the Stars to within three points, if they win their next match, and with just two matches remaining, they still have a mathematical chance of finishing top.

However, as far-fetched as that seems, the Sixers can hope. The Stars lost to the Sixers in their last outing, by 21 runs on the DLS method, in what was only their second loss in this campaign so far. The Strikers as well as the Sixers will hope that triggers a collapse in the Stars.

The Strikers, meanwhile, head in on the back of victories over Brisbane Heat and the Hobart Hurricanes, and are seemingly in good form at the business end of the league stage – that’s always a good time for an upturn in form.

All in all, tomorrow’s result is anyone’s guess.

Head to head

These two sides can’t be separated. They’ve met 10 times over the course of BBL history, and each team have won five matches. Again, tomorrow’s result is anyone’s guess.

Key players

Rashid Khan (Adelaide Strikers): The Afghan spin tycoon has led the side’s attack expertly this season. He is their highest wicket-taker, with 16 scalps in 11 matches, and he traditionally gets better in the knockout phases. Keep an eye on him.

Marcus Stoinis (Melbourne Stars): The highest run-scorer in the league, containing Stoinis will be key to the Strikers’ hopes, but that’s easier said than done. He has scored an eye-watering 585 runs in 12 matches so far, at an average of 73.12, and he’s shown no signs of slowing down.

Likely XIs

Adelaide Strikers: Jake Weatherald, Phil Salt, Travis Head (c), Jonathan Wells, Harry Nielsen (wk), Matthew Short, Rashid Khan, Michael Nesser, Peter Siddle, Liam O’Connor, Wes Agar

Melbourne Stars: Marcus Stoinis, Hilton Cartwright, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell (c), Nick Larkin, Seb Gotch (wk), Jonathan Merlo, Clint Hinchcliffe, Daniel Worrall, Lance Morris, Sandeep Lamichhane

Prediction

Will go for the exciting option and say Adelaide to sneak through.