The daily Big Bash League preview charges down the wicket with BBL tips for a crunch game between Adelaide Strikers and Brisbane Heat.
BBL Tips – Adelaide Strikers V Brisbane Heat
History: Played 14: Strikers 8 V Heat 6
Last meeting: January 29, 2021 (Eliminator): Heat d Strikers by 6 wickets (7 balls remaining) at The Gabba
Final Thoughts: Adelaide Strikers and Brisbane Heat have both won just one of their four BBL|11 fixtures ahead of this pivotal Wednesday night showdown. The Strikers are fourth on the Big Bash ladder courtesy of four valuable bonus points, while the heat sit second-last.
The Strikers split back-to-back early-season clashes with the Renegades, before going down to the Scorchers (49 runs) and Sixers (4 wickets). A lack of batting firepower has held Adelaide back so far, with opener Matthew Short’s superb 63 off 47 against the Scorchers his team’s only score above 41 in this campaign. Rashid Khan’s 3/20 was a highlight as the Sixers ran down their target of 148 with four balls to spare on Tuesday.
The Heat got off the mark with a convincing 5-wicket win with 19 balls left over the Renegades last week, but they crashed to a to a 53-run defeat to the Thunder on Sunday. Brisbane’s bowlers struggled at The Gabba as the Thunder rolled to 7/196. The Heat’s top four batsmen exited for 5 runs or less before Tom Cooper (32 off 18) and bowlers Xavier Bartlett (42* off 29) and Mark Steketee (33 off 24) showed some backbone.
After losing both regular-season games between the teams, the Heat powered to a six-wicket win over the Strikers in the BBL|10 Eliminator. Current Test squad members Marnus Labsuchagne (3/13) and Mitchell Swepson (2/23) helped restrict the Strikers to 7/130 before Joe Denly (41 off 40) and Jimmy Peirson (47* off 44) led the successful run-chase with seven balls to spare.
All-rounder Jack Wildermuth has been recalled by the Heat after battling a back complaint. English import Tom Abell will miss the next four weeks after picking up a knee injury.
Both sides are crying out for a telling contribution from their top-order studs. Heat big-hitter Chris Lynn – the highest scorer in BBL history – is averaging 18. Strikers counterpart Jake Weatherald is averaging just 13.
The Strikers are warm $1.59 favourites at home but this shapes as a flip-of-the-coin proposition.
